Episode 22
"A prior engagement?"
"Yes, we already have an appointment on our side."
Baek Cheolho swept his eyes over Lil Jason with a characteristic gaze.
"Lil Jason of OAG... Pleasure to meet you. I've heard a lot about you."
"Haha, so you know me."
"It'd be stranger for anyone working in this industry not to know OAG. I'm Baek Cheolho of Finally Entertainment."
Baek Cheolho smiled softly and held out a business card.
*What a sly fox.*
It could barely be called a smile—just the corners of his mouth slightly raised—but the cold expression he'd had when Lil Jason first appeared had already vanished.
It meant he recognized the influence Lil Jason had over the scene.
"Then we'll have an easier time understanding each other."
Lil Jason continued with a bright smile.
"We have a prior engagement, so it'd be nice if you could step aside."
It was the first time I was hearing this, but I kept my mouth shut.
Whatever it was, it was better than getting entangled with Baek Cheolho.
Having heard that, Baek Cheolho stared straight through me.
"Is that true?"
Before answering, I snuck a quick glance at Lil Jason.
A face winking at me, continuously closing one eye.
He was working so hard to create a justification for me; was there any reason to refuse?
Besides, it was a situation I could take advantage of.
"Yes, Representative Lil Jason and I arranged to talk briefly today."
I smiled brightly and faced Baek Cheolho.
"...So you really do have a bad impression of agencies, I heard."
That was about your agency.
I deliberated for a moment before continuing.
"Representative Lil Jason said he wants to make music 'together.' It was the first time I'd heard those words."
Behind me, Lil Jason seemed a bit flustered.
He was shameless when he lied himself, but seemed surprised now that I was doing it.
I quickly winked back at him, closing one eye.
"'Together'... I see."
Hearing my words, Baek Cheolho nodded slowly.
*Since I quoted something Lil Jason usually says, the lie probably didn't show.*
He probably took it as the truth.
And that it was also a comparison between his own attitude and Lil Jason's attitude...
He'd know, if he weren't a fool.
Clicking his tongue, Baek Cheolho turned and walked toward the other end of the hallway.
"Let's meet again next time."
Leaving behind ambiguous words, unsure whether they were directed at me or Lil Jason, Baek Cheolho departed.
"...What aura that man has."
Watching his retreating figure, Yeon Jimin muttered.
Lil Jason also nodded as if agreeing to some extent, then looked at me.
"I butted in because you looked troubled, but I hope I didn't make any mistake?"
"No, thanks to you, it was easier for me to refuse as well."
"Haha, no wonder you immediately brought me up so readily."
"Ah, by the way..."
Lil Jason trailed off for a moment.
"Is it true that you have bad memories about an agency?"
"Ah, no. I just said that because I haven't given it any thought yet."
"I see. That's a relief."
A look of relief spread across Lil Jason's face as he answered.
It seemed he hadn't come here purely out of goodwill either....
"...Are you here to cast him too, Lil Jason?"
Yeon Jimin, who had been quietly watching the conversation, stared at him in surprise.
It seemed she'd only heard that he wanted to meet me briefly.
*Though he's probably not trying to cast me right this moment.*
Lil Jason continued with a smile at Yeon Jimin's question.
"Not yet. I came today just to say I heard your song and it was good."
"...Thank you."
"Huh? I'm not done complimenting you yet. That rhythm from earlier. The beat change on the off-beat. That was a polyrhythm, right?"
"Yes. That's right. It's often used in jazz solos and classical pieces, so changing up the rhythm with the pedal..."
As I continued the conversation with Lil Jason, who was asking excitedly, I felt a strange sense of déjà vu somewhere.
*...It feels like talking to a Park Yunseok who's twice as bright.*
I wondered if all geniuses in music thought the same way.
"Haha, I really want you."
"...Didn't you say you didn't come to cast me?"
"Well, I'm not in a position to run the company alone, after all. Anyway, you applied for this, right? School Rapper 2."
"Yes. I'm going out as an auditionee."
"Hmm..."
Lil Jason pondered for a moment before continuing.
"I'll see you then. Prepare well and come out. And just in case..."
He then held out a business card to me.
"That thought of not wanting to find an agency yet. Hold onto it just a little longer."
He didn't say it outright, but he was giving such an obvious sign that I couldn't pretend not to know.
*It's practically a recruitment hint.*
I took the stiff card and answered.
"I'll think about it."
It was the best possible answer given my current position.
After all, I needed time to think, whether it was this side or the other.
*Since he hasn't even established his sub-label Gears Music yet.*
It was a story for the somewhat distant future, when he would begin pouring his energy into scouting new talent.
Right now, he was still devoting his efforts to growing OAG.
He probably had a lot to consider before hastily recruiting a young student just because he liked one stage.
"I watched your performance too, Bak Jahun."
When Lil Jason's business was finished, Yeon Jimin held out her hand for a handshake.
"Those words about seeing you at the audition... At first I thought it was recklessness. But after seeing you today, I've changed my mind."
"Haha... I'm glad you thought it was decent."
At my words, Yeon Jimin and Lil Jason opened their eyes wide at the same time.
"It wasn't just decent. It was enough to make me rethink the direction of School Rapper 2."
"...Isn't there not much time left until filming now?"
"Exactly. That's why I've got more worries."
Yeon Jimin laughed weakly with dark circles heavily under her eyes.
*...I'm not sure if I should be worried about this or not.*
In the moment I was continuing that thought.
*Huh? Why is this suddenly...?*
A system window rose before my eyes.
[Cubase - You have selected a new progression code instead of the expected progression.]
[A new track will be generated in the 'Bak Jahun' remix.]
"...I'll get going now. There's cleanup left."
Actually, there was still time before the concert cleanup, but I said my goodbyes.
"Yes, then see you at the filming set."
Leaving behind Yeon Jimin and Lil Jason's greetings, I quickly walked to the restroom.
Because there was something truly left in my head that I needed to sort out.
[A bridge section will be generated.]
[Content - From playback time 18:70:25 to 18:85:98, a Bridge (1) section will be generated in Bak Jahun's life.]
Effect - Audience immersion listening to Bak Jahun's live increases by 100%.
*This effect only activates within the Bridge (1) section.
The system, rather than a crack...
It was the first moment connected to a different progression.
* * *
"Great work!"
"Woooah! Steps!"
The time when all cleanup was finished.
Before exiting Sewoon Hall, the team members shouted excitedly.
Seonji smiled watching that sight.
"Everyone's really energized."
"They have every right to be. We finished well without any mistakes."
The sense of achievement from successfully finishing the concert.
They were probably unable to control that thrill.
"This is a commemoration too, everyone gather here."
Gim Drum pulled out his phone and called out to the team members.
"Let's take that!"
"Ah, of course."
He didn't even say what to take, but everyone lined up and climbed onto the stage.
The instruments had been put away, but the stage still had its lights on.
It was the perfect time to take commemorative photos up there.
*As expected, this is what you do after a performance.*
The lingering feeling for the stage that only performers could feel.
Because it allowed them to preserve that feeling exactly as it was.
"Seonji, you come up here too!"
"Huh...?"
Gim Drum called out to Seonji, who was still hesitating.
"Seonji doesn't really take pict—"
I remembered she had bad memories with cameras and was about to stop her, but at that moment—
"Keuh, that's right. Everyone has to be together for a commemorative photo."
Seonji ended her hesitation and came up to stand beside me.
"You okay?"
"...I-I'm fine."
"If you really can't, just close your eyes. There are plenty of people who end up in photos with their eyes closed anyway because the timing was off."
She was still trembling a bit, so I gently smiled and comforted her.
"Yeah."
Seonji, who had been staring at me, smiled and closed her eyes.
"...But I should still face forward."
With the commemorative photos finished like that, the team members looked around the stage.
"This is the end for this place too."
"Yeah, it's a bit sad."
*Come to think of it, this was their last stage too.*
As a transfer student, it was a space I'd only used for about a year, but hadn't these kids been through thick and thin here for three years?
Students with expressions of mixed emotions appeared.
"Then is our team disbanding now?"
"...Well, if we get the chance next time, we should gather again."
"Or should we all do entrance exam piece exchanges?"
Entrance exams where you needed an accompanist if it wasn't a backing track.
When Gim Drum suggested they be accompanists for each other, An Jonghwan showed reluctance.
"Exchanges? As if... We're in a situation where we can't even get a decent accompanist."
"...You? Even if someone begged you, you wouldn't do it for them."
Amidst that conversation, Seong Yuri spoke with a smile.
"But it really is a shame. Our teamwork is so good, I feel like we could do more."
Looking at their expressions, everyone seemed to agree.
*Should I ask?*
Summer vacation, which would start in just a little while.
Kids with urgent entrance exams couldn't help it, but there would be team members who could make time.
*And more than anything, I want to try it.*
I briefly recalled what I had obtained after the conversation with Yeon Jimin.
Bridge.
To try making use of its effect... there was nothing quite like it.
I turned to them and spoke.
"Then, by any chance, do any of you want to busk during vacation?"
Seeing a brief silence, I thought they were probably too busy, but then...
"I'm in."
"Hm, me too. It'd be good to reduce nerves before the entrance exams."
"Pfft, then me too."
Starting with Seonji, An Jonghwan and then Gim Drum raised their hands.
"Hm... me too, if I have time?"
With Seong Yuri plus one more guitarist joining, the minimum instrument composition was met.
"It'd be nice if everyone did it together... Since a few people are missing, how about Semi Steps for the name?"
"...Do whatever you want."
Come to think of it, this Gim Drum kid really has a tendency to obsess over names.
"Great, let's rest up and see each other next time."
The team members scattered like that.
I walked the night streets of Sewoon alone.
With the system window I had seen earlier displayed before my eyes.
*It seems to have appeared when I chose the audition... Did it have that big of an impact?*
I had thought only my difficulty had risen a bit.
I thought about it, but no clear answer came to mind.
I decided to think about that part slowly later, and shifted my gaze to the content below.
[A bridge section will be generated.]
[Content - From playback time 18:70:25 to 18:85:98, a Bridge (1) section will be generated in Bak Jahun's life.]
*The timing is exquisite. Exactly one month of vacation.*
And the ending period happened to be the day of School Rapper's first filming.
Bridge, meaning a bridge connecting songs.
Doesn't it really seem like it will serve exactly that role for that section?
*I see how I'm supposed to use it.*
After being hit by cracks so many times, it was just unfamiliar for them to give a reward section.
Anyway, I had no intention of refusing.
After researching it as much as needed...
*I need to leave a clear impact before moving on to the next bar.*
[Semi Steps group chat.]
[Gim Drum: Hey everyone.]
Gim Drum's message, who had already made a group chat, rang my phone.
With this, all preparations to effectively use the Bridge section were complete.
* * *
"...You're really going to change it?"
In Nnet's office, Choe PD approached Yeon Jimin and asked.
"I have to."
"Is this something you need to rack your brains over...?"
With two months left until filming.
Having suddenly seen something somewhere, main writer Yeon Jimin had been agonizing for a while about changing the plan.
"You should have seen it too, PD-nim."
"If it's going to make me suffer like that, I'd rather not see it and live."
"Suffering?"
At those words, Yeon Jimin smiled and looked at Choe PD.
"Can't you see the corners of my mouth going up right now?"
"Huh?"
The concert was what made Yeon Jimin reconsider the overall plot.
It was after seeing Bak Jahun's stage.
*...To introduce a character like this, what should I do?*
After that, several scenes rose in her mind.
Of course, she knew well that a survival program doesn't flow exactly as one plans....
*But this time, it feels like it will flow exactly like that.*
While she was thinking that, Choe PD sighed and asked.
"So you're saying you'll shoot the preliminaries as Episode 1."
"Yes. You know it well."
"...What are you planning to do?"
"The reason we were going to film the preliminaries separately was because there were too many discarded cards, right?"
"Right, and it'd be hard to extract impactful scenes."
Yeon Jimin briefly recalled the scene she saw today, then continued.
"But what if the most impactful characters of the entire season start from the preliminaries?"
"Huh...?"
At Yeon Jimin's question, Choe PD was at a loss for words.
Usually, good characters appear from the first filming through prior casting, but...
*This time, there are quite a few students who aren't like that.*
As if driving in the final nail, Yeon Jimin finished.
"From the moment they appear. We have to capture it without missing anything."
In her head, two rappers had appeared.
The Regressor on the Beat