The gym at six in the morning.
A time mainly used by office workers for their morning workout before heading to work.
There, a man visiting for the first time today stood.
His name was Jung Hyun-woo.
A rookie actor who had just turned twenty-five.
'As expected, morning workouts are the way to go.'
A rookie who had only managed to land a supporting role in a cable drama once.
However, he was the kind of actor who always lived with the thought that someone might recognize him.
That was Jung Hyun-woo.
Anyway, maintaining one's body was essential for an actor.
For male actors, a "muscular physique" was now practically a basic requirement.
"Wow~, the equipment here is really clean."
It looked quite old, but it was very well-maintained.
He had chosen this gym because it was close to home, but it was much neater than expected and to his liking.
"Hmm?"
As the man walked and inspected the place one by one, something caught his eye.
It was a woman with long black hair tied up high.
Or rather, should he call her a girl?
Late teens? She looked to be around that age.
'Wow.'
The man was surprised twice upon seeing the girl.
Once at her jaw-dropping appearance.
And once at the weight of the barbell and plates placed in front of her.
'Uh, what.'
Beautiful face with handsome eyes and a calm expression, a tall and slender figure.
Jung Hyun-woo was an actor, after all.
While filming the cable drama, he had met a few actresses and idols who were considered pretty.
But this girl possessed an appearance that could effortlessly crush them.
Because of that, the barbell in front of her stood out even more.
It was absolutely not a weight that a girl like her could lift.
'Roughly, 200kg?'
On the internet, people might half-boast and blabber about "I deadlift 200," but this was by no means an easy weight.
Even those who have worked out for a while struggle with two hundred.
Only those whose exercise has become daily life and have acquired a taste for piling on weight can even attempt a deadlift of two hundred.
'Surely not.'
The man was about to just walk past.
He never thought that what was placed at the girl's feet belonged to her.
But when the girl's hands gripped the barbell, the man moved reflexively.
To tell her to stop because it was dangerous.
"Did you just come in today?"
But his action was thwarted because someone grabbed his shoulder.
"Yes?"
"Oh, I just thought you were surprised and trying to stop her."
At first, Hyun-woo wondered if it was someone who recognized him, but his spirit shrank at the man's words.
First off, he was a massive figure who looked to be well over 190cm, and a natural-born gym bro armed with muscles from head to toe.
"Ah, w-well, shouldn't we stop her?"
"Hmm, well, that's true. Normally. I was like that too."
The man said so and nodded his chin toward the girl.
Then, the girl holding the barbell slowly exhaled and began her deadlift.
"……!"
The moment she seemed to apply a little force, whoosh.
Creak.
And she set the barbell down smoothly.
Usually, when setting it down like that, people mostly let go from their hands to avoid injury.
But the girl gently placed the barbell down.
"Her strength is ridiculous."
"……Yes? How……."
"Even if you ask how, I wouldn't know. She's just that kind of kid."
The man had been watching ever since Seo-yeon first came to this place.
The trainer at this gym who spots Seo-yeon, Bang Yong-sik.
He frowned at the sight of Jung Hyun-woo staring at Seo-yeon without a word.
"But still, aren't you staring a bit too much?"
"Yes? Ah, n-no! It's not like I have any weird intentions."
It was true that he was initially surprised by her deadlift.
And being astonished by her beautiful appearance was natural.
But the reason Jung Hyun-woo kept looking at the girl was different.
"It's just, I feel like I've seen her somewhere before……."
Jung Hyun-woo murmured so and looked at the girl again.
Long black hair, a strangely sharp impression.
Even though she must be someone he was seeing for the first time, he felt a strange sense of déjà vu.
Like, where had he seen her before?
"Ah, that could be. I don't know much about it, but…… they said she did some child acting briefly in the past."
"Child acting?"
Hearing "child acting," he was quite delighted.
He might be a rookie, but he was an actor too, wasn't he?
'With a face that pretty, she's perfect for acting.'
If she were to become one, it seemed like it would be good to help her out a bit.
Having a kid like that as a junior would make every day a joy.
He'd have to come to the gym every day from now on.
Jung Hyun-woo smiled, thinking such thoughts inwardly.
***
"Huu, huu."
Seo-yeon runs.
The distance from the gym to the high school was a solid 3km.
If she didn't take the bus, it was quite a long distance, but Seo-yeon ran this distance every day.
Anyway, she could cover it within 10 minutes even if she ran.
Jingle, jingle!
"Welcome."
The convenience store she entered with the sound of the bell ringing.
The part-timer stiffened upon seeing the girl who walked in.
'She's here!'
The female student who visits without fail at this time every day.
Long, straight black hair, and somewhat pale brown eyes visible.
At first, it was hard to even meet her gaze.
A mysterious atmosphere, you could say.
Because there was that feeling where looking at someone too pretty becomes burdensome.
But even that becomes something you get used to if you see it every day.
To some extent.
"That'll be 3,000 won."
Two vitamin drinks.
Quite a choice unbecoming of a high school girl.
Thinking that, he put them in a bag and held it out.
He could feel the female student staring intently at him.
"Y-yes? Is there something you need?"
Startled, he bit his tongue as he replied.
Then, the girl spoke with her usual expressionless face.
"No, it's just that I think I've gotten used to it now."
"Y-yes?"
He asked back, wondering what she meant, and the girl scoffed with a smirk.
"~Just kidding."
Because her face was always expressionless, the man momentarily froze at the smile that suddenly turned radiant.
She smiled like a flower.
That was exactly the description that came to mind for that smile.
Jingle, jingle.
Hearing that sound, the part-timer slowly.
Naturally sat down on the part-timer's chair.
It wasn't intentional; his legs just gave out.
"Wow……. Crazy……."
Another day of realizing that a face can be a weapon.
***
For the record, the orthodox cliché of TS stories is visiting a convenience store.
……Well, there probably aren't many people like me who visit one every day, though.
That part-timer was always working at this time, so he remained in my memory.
Since he always looked surprised, I played a little prank today, but……
'He did look quite burdened…….'
Should I skip that place and go to a different convenience store for a while?
Looking back, I felt a bit embarrassed for no reason.
"Ju Seo-yeon."
While walking with those thoughts, someone called me near the school gate.
Same kindergarten.
Same elementary school.
Same middle school on top of that.
And now, we've ended up in the same high school.
Lee Ji-yeon called me.
This girl hasn't changed in over 10 years.
"You did something weird at the convenience store again, didn't you."
"I didn't."
"What do you mean you didn't? I was watching."
Why was she watching that?
No, if she was watching, instead of waiting here, she should have just talked to me earlier.
"Right, right. Don't do that. You love being praised by others. While pretending not to."
"I, I don't."
I made excuses and averted my gaze.
Of course, Lee Ji-yeon clicked her tongue briefly and didn't even pretend to listen.
A reaction my mom would make, now Lee Ji-yeon was doing it.
'Our Seo-yeon, you like being praised by others, don't you?'
Mom had said that before, and it seemed this trait didn't change with time.
That was inevitable.
Because the me from my past life didn't know about 'this kind of feeling.'
Joy, or that thrilling sensation when being praised by others.
I was very, extremely vulnerable to such sensations.
Conversely, sorrow, despair, and the like.
I'm also greatly affected by negative emotions, but I can endure those with my perfectly solid mind, you see.
In other words, vulnerable to pleasure, but strong against pain.
That would be the seventeen-year-old Ju Seo-yeon.
"……If that's the case, aren't you going to slowly make a comeback? Puberty is over, after all."
"I will."
Saying that, I habitually reached into my bag to take out my glasses…… then put them back.
I hadn't worn them much since entering high school, but this habit wasn't easily disappearing.
These glasses were something I wore to obscure my impression.
'It was quite a turbulent time, my middle school life…….'
From elementary school to the early years of middle school.
Even though I hid the fact that I was the child actor for 'The Moon Embracing the Sun' as much as possible, many people recognized me.
If I had been an ordinary child.
And if Lee Ji-yeon hadn't been there, I think it would have been a pretty tough school life.
"……Hmm, come to think of it, you don't wear them anymore."
"Well, there's hardly anyone who recognizes me now."
No, there just isn't.
That's more accurate to say.
It's already been 10 years.
My appearance was also quite different from my childhood.
I grew up prettier, more beautifully, I mean.
Upon entering the school, I could feel the gazes around me.
This wasn't just because of my appearance.
It was the effect of Lee Ji-yeon next to me, who had recently appeared in a drama.
It was a cable drama, but lately, cable dramas had been producing a lot of daring content, so the viewership ratings had risen significantly.
"Hehe."
As if she realized she was drawing attention, Lee Ji-yeon smiled annoyingly.
Her triumphant attitude was very unappealing.
In many ways.
'If she keeps this up, she's going to keep acting.'
This was definitely a good thing, but it made me feel quite conflicted.
But there was nothing I could do about it.
My deeply conflicted heart……
"Ju Seo-yeon."
As if interpreting my gaze in her own way, Lee Ji-yeon patted my shoulder.
"If you're frustrated, make a comeback."
"……I will."
After entering high school.
I thought it was time to slowly resume activities.
Terrestrial broadcasts, and OTT.
The era where various internet broadcasts were rising had arrived.
Ah, and VTubers too.
My strong will to become a VTuber hadn't been broken yet, I tell you.
'However.'
So I was agonizing over what to do.
A comeback work.
Countless works flashed through my mind.
"Looking at it broadly, there are two, I guess……."
Well, even if I wanted to enter somewhere else right away, I couldn't even get an audition.
It was different from my child actor days.
At the very least, the opponents I had to fight against now were adult actors.
To land a role, the corresponding career was necessary.
The title of child actor for 'The Moon Embracing the Sun' was a good career, but the blank period was too long.
Instead, this was a title that would be useful to leverage after making a comeback.
"Two?"
"Yeah, I have to audition first, though."
A child actor who had a 10-year long hiatus.
There weren't many things I could audition for.
You had to show something first to get a ladder to climb higher.
"Just ask the KMB drama department head."
"No, that's a bit……."
I had no desire to create unnecessary controversy.
These days, when even trivial things easily sparked controversies, doing something like that would definitely make me thoroughly disliked by senior actors.
"Well, fine."
Lee Ji-yeon nodded at my words.
"So what are those two you mentioned?"
"Ah, that's……."
Right as I was about to answer Ji-yeon's question.
Ring ring ring, ring ring ring ring ring!!
The bell signaling the start of 1st period rang.
The footsteps of the students walking around became hurriedly faster.
"Ah, I'll tell you after school today."
"What?"
Lee Ji-yeon tried to grab my collar in a hurry, but I was faster.
Having been late once before, if I was late again, I would definitely get a nagging.
"Hey, Ju Seo-yeon!!!"
Leaving behind Lee Ji-yeon's loud voice calling me, I quickly ran into the classroom.
Opening the back door of the classroom, I lightly waved my hand at Lee Ji-yeon.
So, you shouldn't have said anything to me about the convenience store.