Little Pink Starfish

If I were to summarize today’s schedule, it’d go like this:

First: Entertain Jeong Noeul who’s come to visit the “sick” me, then send him off.

Second: Attend Madojin’s butterfly emergence celebration after lunch.

Third: Have dinner and plan the N–LIVE broadcast.

Fourth: Relax in our respective rooms!

…That’s what I was writing in my phone’s memo app when a message from Min Heejae popped up.

[Ludwig Shock Beethoven: Instrument.]

[Ludwig Shock Beethoven: Come to the 13th floor practice room tonight.]

[Ludwig Shock Beethoven: I have a song I want you to hear.]

[Ludwig Shock Beethoven: You wouldn’t refuse the one whose butt you smacked, would you?]

“…His butt?”

So now I was a sexual harasser.

Knowing Heejae, refusing would only provoke him to come barging in himself.

Fourth: Visit Min Heejae’s practice room to listen to his song.

I edited my memo accordingly and let out a long sigh.

“Why are we this busy when there aren’t even official CYB events today…?”

It was insanity.

For the record, Han Iro and I were currently tackling our first task.

“Eunyul-hyung, isn’t this too much…? I’m so sorry. It’s all because of me…”

Jeong Noeul looked worriedly down at “Han Iro.”

Han Iro, unable to withstand Noeul’s warm gaze, still said:

“Y-yeah… I’m fine. Cough, cough!”

…He was fully committed to his sick act.

“Hyung! You should just use your Constellation’s power! You already healed your leg, so I’m sure you could fix a cold, too—”

Oops! This is my cue to step in!

We couldn’t let Noeul’s Constellation manifest in front of Han Iro.

“Power~?”

I said with a sly smile.

“Does your Constellation really have healing powers? Amazing. Can I watch?”

I asked with a cheeky tone.

Jeong Noeul’s eyes narrowed into slits as he glared at me.

‘So… this is how he’s been looking at Iro all this time, huh?’

Being hated by Jeong Noeul was surprisingly shocking.

“Listen. I’m not really thrilled about you being here.”

Noeul said flatly.

“But you’re Eunyul-hyung’s friend, so I’m putting up with it. But remember, you called me Hitler last time. Our relationship crossed a point of no return then.”

“I was just worried about your health.”

“I’m perfectly healthy!”

“But you could ruin it with one mistake, you know?”

“Are you cursing me with chronic illness right now?!”

Why did he hate Iro so much…?

As I thought that, I instinctively placed my hand on Jeong Noeul’s head.

“Of course not. I apologize for calling you Hitler. I just lost my temper out of concern. Please accept my apology.”

“You’re really apologizing… to me?”

Jeong Noeul looked visibly flustered.

“Y-you don’t have to… Iro-yah…”

Han Iro groaned and slowly sat up.

“Noeul-ah… apologize to Iro… He’s my most precious friend… He came to visit me while I was sick… Don’t be rude to him…”

That bastard… he’s using my body for this…?!

While I gawked in disbelief, his performance was too convincing for Noeul.

“I—I know that…”

Noeul mumbled, fidgeting.

“I didn’t really hate you. I just didn’t want to lose, so I acted bratty.”

“I know, Noeul…”

Han Iro smiled gently and patted Noeul’s head.

‘If Noeul found out the one touching his head right now was actually Han Iro…’

That’d be a point of no return for real.

“Noeul-ah. Cough! Cough…!! I’ll be fine after resting today, so don’t worry too much…”

“Really? But hyung, you always overdo it!”

“I mean it… Heheh… Just trust me… Oh, and if you make up with Iro, I’ll feel better even faster…”

That jerk! He’s using my body like a prop!

“Fine!”

Jeong Noeul shouted energetically and turned to me.

“I won’t hate you anymore! Not that I really did to begin with!”

He extended his hand.

“I’ll start calling you Iro-hyung from now on!”

“…O-oh. Thanks.”

I shook his hand.

“Looking forward to being friends!”

He exhaled forcefully through his nose as he said it.

“…Me too.”

Just like that, our relationship… advanced.

---

After sending Noeul off, we moved on to the second task.

“You’re here too, Eunyul-ssi.”

Madojin opened the door solemnly.

“Yeah. He really wanted to see the butterfly!”

I said cheerfully.

“Well… I was curious too. Hello, Dojin-ssi.”

Han Iro bowed his head slightly.

‘…Do I really look that disapproving of Madojin?’

It was weird seeing myself through someone else’s eyes.

If Iro was acting like this, it had to be accurate.

Madojin led us into his room.

“If I’d known Eunyul-ssi would be joining us, I would have prepared better…”

‘Prepare what, exactly?’

His room was utterly empty.

The only thing lively was the butterfly fluttering on one side of the room.

“Woooow!”

Han Iro exclaimed.

‘Wait a sec… this guy…’

He was way too excited.

“You’ve emerged so beautifully, Holly! Congratulations—ack!”

I reached from behind and pinched his side hard—out of Madojin’s sight.

“What’s wrong, Eunyul-ssi?!”

Madojin asked in concern.

“Are you feeling unwell?!”

Why’s he so flustered all of a sudden?

He was always so emotionless… but now, something about this seemed suspicious.

Han Iro glared at me while massaging his side, but he remembered it wasn’t his body and shut up.

“Holly’s beautiful. Right, Iro-yah?”

He said with a soft smile.

Finally calming down.

Now it was my turn.

I needed to act even more dramatic than Iro had just been.

If Iro was that excited, then as “Iro,” I had to go above and beyond.

“HoOoOoOoLLYYYYY!!”

I shouted with all my might.

Then shoved my face into the butterfly enclosure, on the verge of tears.

“Uuuhhh! Holly! Happy birthday, Holly! You’ve made this world just a little more beautiful… Holly… love… Holly love… Aaah…”

I turned to Iro and Madojin.

“Everyone! Let’s sing happy birthday together! For Holly!”

“Y-you’re a bit too hyped, Iro…”

Han Iro said with a resigned expression.

“Very well.”

Madojin replied without emotion.

“Happy birthday Holly~! Happy birthday Hooooolllyyy~!”

I clapped as I sang, and the other two reluctantly joined in.

…I kinda wanted to die a little.

---

Finally, the 13th-floor practice room.

“Bringing someone famous, huh?”

Min Heejae said, referring to “me” as Han Iro.

“Hello, Min Heejae-ssi. This is our first time speaking directly.”

I extended my hand politely.

“I’m Han Iro. Eunyul invited me, so I came.”

“Min Heejae. I’m the master of the instrument known as Ryu Eunyul.”

“Wh-what do you mean, ‘master’!?”

Han Iro snapped with an indignant look.

‘…That was eerily accurate.’

His acting was impressive.

“‘Instrument’ is your nickname, Eunyul?”

I couldn’t lose. I put on a soft smile and asked like Iro would.

“I don’t know! He just calls me that!”

Iro—playing me—pouted.

“Hehe… Anyway, instrument, you’ll pay dearly for spanking my butt.”

“…Butt? Spanked?”

Han Iro looked at me in shock and whispered.

‘He’s saying that with someone else in the room?!’

I wanted to yell at Heejae to have some sense, but I kept my cool and mimicked Iro’s expression.

“…Your butt? Spanked?”

I asked Heejae.

“Eunyul did that? What are you talking about, Heejae-ssi?”

“Ah…”

Heejae looked awkward.

‘Even he can’t bring up ghosts and dreams in front of others, right?’

I smiled victoriously.

“Eunyul spanked my butt real good.”

ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?!

Without the context of ghosts and subconscious dream visions, this sounded insane!

“He-Heejae-hyung, what nonsense are you talking about…?”

Han Iro, playing me, stammered through his line—visibly unsure if it was really nonsense.

“Anyway, this song is my thanks to you.”

Heejae said, sitting at the keyboard.

“I wanted to say thank you. This is the only way I can express myself. Will you listen?”

‘You’re making it sound even more confusing now!’

…but I held back.

“Wow… I’m really curious.”

I smiled as best I could.

Heejae began to play.

As expected, the performance was beautiful.

It felt wrong to hear something this moving in a cramped little practice room.

A dark and sorrowful melody…

But even a slight variation gave way to an uplifting climax.

Then a quiet ending.

“A-amazing…”

Han Iro completely forgot to act and was left speechless.

‘Now I have to be even more amazed…’

Because “Han Iro” was hearing Heejae’s music for the first time.

Clap clap clap!

I gave a standing ovation.

‘Well, it was worthy of that.’

“That was a wonderful piece, Heejae-ssi.”

I said, applauding.

“Thank you, Iro-ssi.”

Heejae bowed slightly. Then turned to Iro.

“Don’t you want to know the title of this piece, instrument?”

“Y-yes…”

“This piece is for you. I’ll give you the score. You’ll own the copyright too. So it has no title. I want you to name it.”

‘…He just took the naming rights for this masterpiece away from me?!’

‘Well, I guess I can always change it later…’

I thought hard.

The melody lingered in my head as I searched for a name.

Apparently, so did Han Iro.

He must’ve been wondering what Ryu Eunyul would have named that piece.

Probably this:

“For the title, Heejae-hyung…”

Han Iro began with a smile.

“…I want to call it ‘Wings.’”

Because I was thinking the exact same thing.