"What is it, did some celebrity come?"

It was nothing new for Hongdae to be crowded, but even those with no interest couldn't help but be curious when there was an exceptionally large gathering of people.

Those killing time while waiting for appointments also circled around out of mere curiosity, attracted like moths to the intense excitement.

Time flows relentlessly.

Those with appointments they couldn’t avoid had to force themselves to leave, hesitating and stopping in their tracks countless times.

On the other hand, those who had finally made it out after a long time think to themselves “I’m glad I came out,” leaving their phone-holding hands dangling. Even though the bitter early winter chill had turned their hands deathly white, they couldn’t put their cameras down.

Memories weren’t eternal.

They wanted to cling to the sight of the boy singing, thinking they might not get to see him again.

No, maybe they’d get to see him become famous later on.

The man whose guitar was eventually snatched away while accompanying could only blankly stare at the boy like the other spectators, unable to even hold up his phone.

He had no choice but to let his guitar be taken away.

From the very first verse he heard, his hands fell away.

He simply couldn’t keep plucking the strings.

A shiver ran down his spine.

Goosebumps rose on his arms and his legs were rooted to the spot, unable to move. As if spellbound, he couldn’t tear his eyes away.

Mundane worries and frivolous thoughts scattered away like dust. He’s good, amazing - he couldn’t even express his admiration properly, just staring dumbly like an idiot.

Just what is this kid?

How, how is this possible?

It was not something just anyone could do - captivating the audience and holding people’s attention for a long time with just the first verse.

Even if he sang a very famous song, people would be more likely to casually dismiss it since it was something they recognized.

But although the boy sang a song no one would be unfamiliar with, he deceived the audience into thinking it was a song that had just debuted.

Despite realizing early on that he had no talent, the man who had persistently loved and trained in music saw in this moment that the boy possessed a talent he did not.

Even if he practiced for a hundred years, would he ever be able to become that boy? He doubted it.

He didn’t feel jealous. Seeing that the boy would soon become famous even if he wasn’t yet, who in this country could succeed if not that child?

Instead, he felt a rush of adrenaline as if he had discovered a future star ahead of everyone else.

'Wow.'

The exhilarating feeling was no joke.

People’s expressions, the increasing number of eyes, and the cameras were proof.

[One day, for you

become the wind and raise your wings]

He had long exceeded his allotted reservation time.

But the next reservation holders, a band carrying heavy instruments, insisted they had come not to perform but to watch, granting the boy an encore stage.

At that moment, that space transformed from wintry London to 90’s Korea.

The song gradually came to an end.

Disappointment showed on the faces of those who knew it was ending.

[For me, for this world

Please love everything]

The boy bowed to the crowd and everyone cheered wildly for him.

Despite the band with the next reservation waving their heavy instruments around and stubbornly protesting that they had come to perform not watch, the boy smiled gently and declined their consideration.

The applause didn’t stop.

People still hadn’t emerged from the boy’s stage, unlike the man’s stage which was easily forgotten.

They showed no signs of moving until the boy left.

“Hey, just who on earth are you?!”

The boy’s friend reacted as if unaware of his skills, stunned.

As someone haphazardly threw money into the carelessly tossed guitar case on the ground, others began following suit like a trend.

Some approached the boy to ask for his autograph, while others asked to take pictures together.

The boy didn’t seem bothered at all, brightly accepting it all. A group of schoolgirls also got his autograph on white paper with his initial ‘H’ signed.

His distinct eyes and facial features occasionally peeked out from between the messy bangs. He looked ordinary now but would probably gain immense popularity if he grew up like this.

“Thank you for lending this to me.”

The boy returned the guitar.

His heart still pounding, the man couldn’t get any words out and just stared fixedly at the boy.

“Thanks to you I had fun.”

“I also...”

The man unconsciously spoke formally and bowed his head. It was probably an embarrassing sight, but the boy laughed vibrantly as if it were only natural.

“Anyone would mistake you for a top star.”

Seeing Halo smoothly give his autograph to people, although he felt a bit silly, Jang Jinsoo got to see Halo again.

“Really...”

Incomplete words swirled around in his mouth.

For the first time, Jang Jinsoo felt No Haeil was very far away. A place he could not reach.

This analogy was pretty funny but he really seemed like a star.

#

"Ugh-"

What a waste, what a waste, what a waste!

On the subway, Halo couldn’t keep still, leaving his legs dangling.

Such a waste!

There was so much more he wanted to show.

He wanted to sing his songs and jump around but his weak constitution wouldn’t allow it.

His throat was weak and his body itself was too frail.

If he had sung standing, his legs wouldn’t have withstood it and he would have collapsed.

What could he achieve like this?

Halo strongly felt the need for training.

"Ugh, I'm dying!"

Despite not being the one singing, the equally exhausted Jang Jinsoo let out a groan. Seeing the expectant sparkle in his eyes, it seemed there was a lot he wanted to ask.

Sensing the people around them, Jang Jinsoo whispered in a small voice.

“Were you always that freaking good at singing?”

“Yeah.”

“Guitar too?”

Halo nodded.

“Where, I mean how much did you learn, and for how long?”

“Um.”

That was a hard question to answer.

Since he had never formally learned guitar.

When he was young, he happened to see someone playing guitar on the streets and went to watch them every day.

Then one day when he coincidentally obtained a guitar, he imitated what that person did. The same posture, the same hand movements, clumsily.

‘That’s still learning.’

“Around 25 years ago?”

“If you don’t wanna talk about it just say you don’t wanna.”

It was the truth yet he didn’t believe it.

Well, twenty-five years ago was Halo’s story.

Then how long did No Haeil learn guitar?

Judging by the callouses on his fingers, it didn’t seem like he had learned for that long. Or maybe he played gently without leaving traces. But then his skills wouldn’t have improved much.

Staring blankly at his hands, Halo answered.

“Around half a year?”

It definitely didn't seem like a full year.

“Fuck. Fine.”

“What do you want.”

He didn’t like that answer or this one.

It was tiring catering to him.

Luckily, Jang Jinsoo was simple-minded.

Or he just couldn’t restrain his curiosity.

“But what were those things you got from the ahjussi and some noonas earlier? Money?”

“Ah, that.”

Halo took out what he had haphazardly shoved into his pocket.  Seeing the crumpled items Jang Jinsoo’s face warped in disbelief. What Halo had crumpled like coupons were none other than business cards from entertainment companies.

Some even had familiar names.

“Whoa holy, are these...SH, GOD, Gauss...damn, major labels! You got cards from all the famous companies. Your singing was freaking amazing but still...damn you’re so amazing!”

“Famous companies?”

“Huh, you don’t know? Didn’t you say you don’t listen to Korean music? But how could you not know...SH means Hazel! GOD is Caramel! Gauss is that group...ah, what was it, the guys...CB, Cold Brew! You must have heard of them before.”

“...”

Hazel? Caramel? Cold Brew?

Thinking they were record labels, Halo spoke hesitantly.

"Coffee shops?"

"..."

Jang Jinsoo's expression hardened. Halo felt genuinely wronged.

"Anyway, what did they say when they gave you those? That they'll make you the best singer?"

"So they're record labels."

"Record label? More like agencies, whatever."

Despite the clumsy pronunciation, Halo could understand.

Management. In other words, agencies rather than record labels.

"They'll manage me when I haven't even released an album?"

"They usually scout promising kids through auditions, sign contracts, and professionally train them in the company to debut on stage."

"Does that work well?"

"Why wouldn't it? You don't know K-pop? How huge our country's entertainment industry is? The trainee system is also famous."

"Oh, is that so?"

Halo also knew people who wanted to establish that kind of business. A system to discover and invest in promising talents.

While other musicians had negative views, insisting that exceptional singers could not be mass-produced like factory goods, Halo thought it wasn't a bad idea.

How great would it be if there were schools or lectures for poor musicians? He would even consider guest lecturing if invited.

"So which company will you join? I feel like Gauss would suit you."

"Why would I join?"

"Huh...wouldn't it be good if you joined?"

Jang Jinsoo was at a loss for words.

Weren't those the business cards of major agencies that not just anyone could get? Besides, No Haeil's looks weren't exceptionally outstanding either. If he did well, it could've been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"Wasn't it kind of a positive thing?"

"It is positive."

Discovering musicians buried at sea. A good vision.

But that was their story, not his.

"But I don't need that kind of help."

"!"

He was already complete.

Even if his body was a bit lacking, the soul named Halo still had talent and skill.

He didn't need someone else's help.

He knew well how to proceed on his own.

"I hate interference too."

How much stress did he endure because of that CEO jerk?

He dreamed of independence and eventually created his own label. He ended all contracts with that CEO as well.

"So you have no plans to sign with anyone?"

"For now?"

He didn't need musical coaching and would likely need an agency later for album contracts or legal issues. For later that is.

Debuting immediately wasn't a priority either, so management wasn't important right now.

What he needed to address urgently was filling up his lacking worldly knowledge and he had a lot to adapt to. And right, training. Building up his frail body, conditioning his vocal cords. To his satisfaction.

And above all.

There was so much he wanted to do.

He wanted to enjoy the thrill of exploring this unfamiliar world a bit longer, and more than anything, revel in the insane music of this world.

So much to do, and so much more that he wanted.

"An ungrateful brat."

In response to Jang Jinsoo's jealous whining, Halo bluntly retorted.

"I'm still hungry."

#

The subway stopped at Jamsil Station.

At some point, he had dozed off and hurriedly had to get off.

If he had been just a bit late, he would've ended up at the next station.

As he was about to throw away the trash in his pocket that was bothering him, Jang Jinsoo told him to keep it.

Would he ask for it later? Recalling the envious Jang Jinsoo, Halo readily agreed.

"Hey."

Music could be heard from the cell phone shop in front of the station.

Halo, who was merely blinking absently and about to go his way, halted his steps.

"What."

"That, you know."

When you could just say it plainly, why did you keep beating around the bush?

"Speak."

"-Can't you listen?"

The cell phone shop music suddenly grew louder, muffling Jang Jinsoo's words. Halo frowned and turned his head away.

The phone shop employee was hurriedly fiddling with the computer.

"What did you say?"

"That, my song. You said you'd listen."

"Your song?"

"The song for Soyou's submission..."

"Ah."

That.

Despite saying he wouldn't show it and then changing his words, Jang Jinsoo seemed a bit pushy.

"Just if it's good or bad. Just let me know if it's decent."

"Alright."

"Really?"

"Yeah. It's not something difficult."

"Thanks. I'll send it to you when I get home."

Halo nodded.

Jang Jinsoo brightly turned away.

All that endless probing on the subway must have been a build-up for this request after all.

Too obvious despite the nice gestures.

Anyone could tell his footsteps were buoyant with joy.

"As if this kind of guy is a gangster."

Halo clicked his tongue in irritation and turned his body.

Although his frail body still shuddered violently, somehow his heart felt refreshed.

Indeed, he was clearly born for music.

Once again, the song from the cell phone shop blared loudly. People exiting the subway station frowned, passing by swiftly with annoyed expressions.

The employee inside the phone shop hurriedly grabbed at the computer again. Seeing the expression of the owner next to him, it seemed he would soon be fired.

'Not bad song though.'

Just as Halo, who had briefly appreciated it and intended to head home, was about to leave, he suddenly halted his steps, drawn in by the melody drifting in.

"!"

A familiar melody reached his ears.

Despite the different instruments, beat, mood, and application of the song, the progression was distinctly familiar.

4/4 time signature.

"One, two three."

Just three measures.

"...There's no way."

His face stiffened completely.

He listened until the music ended then headed straight for the cell phone shop.