Little Pink Starfish

A Friend’s Dream

Constellations cannot look upon one another.

They can only recognize each other’s presence.

Since the Gate was closed, materialization had been forbidden by The Savior Who Is One and All, so it was only natural.

The reason Starlight and Traveler from Asteroid B-612 could see each other was because they were a special exception who had been granted permission to materialize.

That’s why Starlight couldn’t see Min Heejae’s Constellation.

Though she had the nature of a ghost, she still held the title of a Constellation.

But in Jeong Noeul’s case, it was different.

As the reincarnation of Abrilah, he could see spirits through his innate magic.

That was why he could see Min Heejae’s childhood friend.

Even though she had the authority of a Constellation, her essence was closer to that of a ghost.

…Now it all makes sense.

I nodded.

So he entered CYB to fulfill his childhood friend’s dream in her place.

\

Yes, yes. Fallen Archangel, could you maybe hush for a bit…?

I looked at Min Heejae.

“Min Heejae.”

And opened my mouth.

“I thought you approached me with dishonest intentions. I want to apologize for that.”

“…You did? Why? My strategy to get closer to you was perfect.”

Min Heejae’s eyes widened in surprise.

“It was a perfectly failed strategy…”

I sighed.

I started with an apology, but he wasn’t exactly innocent either.

“Min Heejae, you really should… learn how to get along with people.”

Upon hearing that, Min Heejae clapped his hands.

“That’s familiar advice. My late childhood friend used to say that too.”

“…She must’ve been a really good person.”

And I meant it.

Because she was a good person, Min Heejae must’ve entered CYB to fulfill her dream.

He said she passed away in elementary school.

My heart felt heavy.

“Anyway, Min Heejae…”

No time for mourning now.

We were here to plan our performance.

“…You said your goal is to rank high and debut successfully, right?”

“That’s right. I heard the project group formed from CYB’s top ranks skyrockets to fame. If I make it in, she’ll be happy too.”

“Then we’re aligned. I want to rank high too—and if possible, I want to win.”

I extended my hand to him.

“So let’s do our best on this project together.”

“Heh… Sounds good.”

Squeeze!

Min Heejae grabbed my hand.

…And kept holding it.

“You can let go now, Heejae…”

“A handshake is a sign of friendship, isn’t it? I’d like to savor this feeling a bit longer. We’re friends now, right?”

“…Well, I guess we’re closer than before. Even if we’re still rivals.”

I pulled my hand back from his grasp.

He clasped the hand that had shaken mine, his face oddly flushed.

“Then from now on, call me Heejae-hyung.”

“Just like that?”

“We’re close now. We can be hyung and dongsaeng. You can drop honorifics too, right?”

Isn’t he pushing this a little aggressively?

Well, he has always been aggressive.

Now that I know he’s not a bad person…

Thinking that, I nodded.

“Do what’s comfortable, Heejae-hyung.”

“…One goal achieved.”

Heejae looked emotional.

“And what does becoming friends have to do with making CYB’s top ranks…?”

“No.”

Heejae cut me off.

“I’ve been watching you. And I’ve noticed—Eunyul, you underestimate yourself.”

“…Underestimate myself?”

“Yeah. It’s common for artists to doubt their abilities. That’s just how we are.”

“…Artist?”

Just a Korean translation of ‘artist,’ but somehow it sounded grand.

“Yeah, artist. Artists tend to underrate their own skills. I did too when I was young. My piano teacher used to call me a genius, but I didn’t believe it then.”

“You learned piano too?”

“Yup. Back then, my dream was to be a pianist.”

…Don’t tell me he gave up his dream to fulfill his friend’s?

“And now? Do you still think your teacher was wrong?”

“Nope. When it comes to music, I’m unquestionably a genius.”

He said that with full confidence.

Considering he treated his Ludwig Shock Beethoven work as just a game, there was no doubt he was a rare talent.

“Want a demo of my skills?”

With that, he manipulated the computer.

He launched a DAW and brought up the John River Williams songs he had played for me earlier.

“John River Williams mostly used classical guitar.”

He propped his chin with his hand.

“But we can’t push classical guitar sound in an idol stage. So…”

He placed his hands on the synthesizer keys.

“Let’s reframe it with synthetic sounds.”

Doom— doo-roo-doom—

Heejae played the song.

In a flash, the acoustic mood of John River Williams was transformed into EDM.

Amazing…

It wasn’t just a matter of changing instruments—he was adjusting the whole composition to suit electronic sounds.

“Feeling it?”

Heejae looked at me and asked.

“…Yeah.”

“Then sing.”

“Right now?”

He nodded.

Sing? Right now?

I didn’t even fully know the lyrics…

I was caught off guard, but watching Heejae re-arrange the music so fluidly made me itch to sing.

“Hold on…”

I pulled out my phone and searched for the lyrics of the John River Williams song he was playing.

“Ah, ah.”

Then I warmed up my voice and read over the lyrics.

It was my first time singing folk rock, so I was nervous.

— If Sally’s eyes are like the sea Then I, who she sees, am just a shabby fisherman Setting sail in the world she gazes at…

Singing it raw, without a mic, while reading the English lyrics, didn’t sound all that polished.

“Feels good, doesn’t it?”

Heejae asked.

…It really did.

I nodded slightly, and he grinned.

“Then let’s try another one.”

He swiftly switched the track, and I scrambled to look up the lyrics.

— An old man sat on a bench I asked, “Sir, what are you doing?” He answered: “Writing a letter.” “Young man, I have no pen or paper But my head is full of letters I never sent Letters revised again and again Still stuck inside me, never delivered.”

“…Excellent. Have you sung folk rock before?”

“No…”

“Then I wasn’t wrong. You’ve got incredible vocal talent.”

Muttering that, Heejae continued to rearrange the music on the fly.

Even as he rapidly switched tracks, the balance between them was seamless, like magic.

I gave it my all to keep up with his judgment.

After some time had passed—

“Huff, huff…”

I was breathing hard.

It felt like I’d just sprinted laps.

But the exhaustion was refreshing.

“You’re the ultimate instrument.”

Heejae said this in a calm tone, looking at me.

“…Hyung, you’re amazing too.”

It felt like I’d run a marathon.

Hard, but exhilarating.

“Then does that mean… I can call you my instrument from now on?”

Why is he like this…?

“That’s… not what I meant. I just meant you’re really good…”

“Nope. Just now, you agreed to become my instrument.”

“Why are you deciding what I meant?! Don’t call me that. It’s uncomfortable.”

“Why not?”

He tilted his head.

“Isn’t this the kind of moment where you’re supposed to say yes, now that you’re in a good mood?”

“Don’t joke, hyung. I’m a person, not an instrument.”

“Human voices are the best instruments. So from now on, you’re my instrument.”

So… even if I refuse, that’s the end result?

“So, how was it, my instrument? My skills… Trustworthy, right?”

“…Very.”

I said honestly.

“I’ll leave the arrangement entirely to you. I’ll do my best with the lyrics, so don’t worry.”

“I’m not worried. I know you’ll do great.”

“Thanks. Also…”

I cleared my throat.

“I think… I can trust you now.”

“So you didn’t trust me before?”

You think?

“I’ll let you imagine that. Anyway, as a sign of trust, there’s something I want to show you.”

“What is it?”

“Just a second.”

I closed my eyes and focused.

Other than Starlight and me, no one else had ever seen this before.

‘Summon: Invitation to the Stage of Stars.’

As I murmured it internally and opened my eyes, a piece of dark crimson parchment was now in my right hand.

“…What’s that?”

Heejae’s expression stiffened—he must’ve sensed its ominous aura.

“Let’s just say… it’s our trump card.”

I smiled.

“This will make our performance flawless.”

---

Time passed quickly.

Rehearsals went smoothly, and we did our best to bring out the optimal result.

“Ugh… Eunyul-hyung… Ever since you got close to Heejae-hyung, you’ve been working me to death…”

I ignored Jeong Noeul’s sweaty complaints.

“Instrument, I booked the studio on the 13th floor again. Let’s meet there tonight.”

Every night, Heejae and I met in the 13th floor studio to exchange ideas.

…And finally, performance day arrived.

So nervous…

After finishing my makeup, I stepped out onto the terrace to catch my breath.

\

Starlight grumbled from my shoulder.

“I hate that I still get like this too…”

I scratched my neck.

“Well, at least the performance should be decent.”

Compared to the third round, the gap between team members was clearer now—but we worked hard to make up for it.

\

“Oh yeah? And how refined is hell’s elegance, then?”

As I snorted—

Clunk!

The terrace door opened with a thud.

“There you are, Eunyul.”

J.H.A.—no, Kim Bongcheol—appeared.

“Uh, uh…”

I hastily brushed Starlight off my shoulder.

\

Starlight shouted as he buzzed away.

“Ah, hello!”

I bowed to Kim Bongcheol, ignoring Starlight’s protests.

“Heh. No need to be so formal.”

Smiling kindly, Kim Bongcheol approached me.

“I wanted to talk to you before the performance.”

“…With me?”

He nodded.

“You don’t know this, but…”

Actually, I do.

“I knew your father.”

…So it was true.

“You’re not even surprised. I like that—very stoic.”

Kim Bongcheol chuckled approvingly.

“I’m not usually interested in today’s pop music, but I volunteered to judge this round just to see you perform. That said, I’m not here to play favorites, just…”

“What kind of relationship did you have with my father?”

Unable to hold back, I asked.

He answered without hesitation.

“We were comrades.”

“Comrades…”

Coming from a former hunter, that term carried unexpected weight.

“He was a man you could truly count on.”

With that, Kim Bongcheol placed a hand on my shoulder.

“If you want to know more about your father…”

Then, he whispered softly—

“…Come find me after the performance.”