"What's with you today?", Ji Eun asks as she walks beside me.
"What do you mean?"
"You were quiet the whole day during class, what's up with that?", she pointedly says.
"Nothing much. It's just how I am."
She raised a brow when I said that.
"How you are? You're not usually soft spoken. Care to tell me what's really wrong?" She posed as she asked that.
"Like I said. It's really nothing. I just want to be alone these few days. Isn't your birthday coming up soon?" I try to deflect her questioning to something else.
"Yeah. I'm still wondering if I should just celebrate with you, Seung Ri and my family or with my new friends as well.", she pondered.
"You want anything in particular for your gift?"
"Ehem. That's for you to figure out, isn't it?" She asked blatantly.
Wow, can't argue with that.
"I'm just stuck with a few options, that's all. Your input would be nice for the Final Cut."
"Really?, she stared at me wonderingly, "And what are your options? Why not all of them together?", she requested in a thrilled manner hoping to receive more presents and know them ahead of time.
"Pfft. Like I could afford all of them. And for your former question, that's for you to find out."
"Hmpf!", she pouts while looking away.
-----------------
And so, in the course of time that had led up to the current moment, we found ourselves celebrating Ji Eun's 6th birthday.
She decided it'd be best for everyone, including her new friends to celebrate it together.
While Seung Ri was getting acquainted with some of her friends, I was at the corner of the room holding a cup, chilling.
'They don't know the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell.'
"Ya!! Why're you brooding alone at this corner!", Ji Eun walked up to me, after finding me hiding in said corner.
"Hm? They don't know....."
"You're being weird! (•̀⤙•́ ) *smacks the back of his head*"
"Huh? Oh, Ji Eun. Have you seen my gift?", I snapped out of a daze and questioned.
"Yeah! I can't believe you got me a Gamegirl Colour! Where'd you get the money for it??", she asked animatedly.
"I have my ways..", I muttered, trying to be cryptic.
"Mwo?! You're really not gonna tell me?", she sulked.
"Heeey, Ji Eun! Happy birthday!", a guest had just arrived and walked in on our conversation.
As I walked away from them so as to not interrupt their congratulating mood, I found myself back in a new corner.
'They don't know-'
"Oyyy, my fellow ice wheel enthusiast. Why didn't you tell me you'd arrive?", as he approached me and happily started the conversation.
"Yo, Seung Ri, how's school been treating ya?"
"Man, classes suck without you bro.. I miss when you'd teach me if I couldn't understand something during the lesson.", he said in a defeated manner.
"You could ask me after school if you're not busy."
"Really? Thanks a lot man. By the way..."
As I continued to make small talk with Seung Ri, I couldn't help but notice a small frown on Ji Eun's face.
Being the suave gentleman that I am, I couldn't help but ask her what's wrong.
"Why the frown, birthday girl?"
"Hng. ໒꒰ྀི -᷅ ⤙ -᷄ ꒱ྀི১ It's nothing."
"Really? I was gonna give you the new Pokebeast Gold for your new Gamegirl Colour, but I guess you don't want it..
\( ' o ' )/", I threw in a fake surprised look.
"What?! Really?! (´⊙ω⊙`)!*Ehem* I mean, really? For me?", she asked in a faked coy tone.
"Hmmm, yes. If only the birthday girl would tell me what's wrong."
"You're the reason, neon (you) babo (fool) ya.", she muttered to herself quietly.
"What's that?"
"Nothing! I think it's time to cut the cake! Isn't it, Eomma?", she quickly averted the topic, signalling to her mother.
As all the guests had arrive, not long after, the birthday song was sung together and the cake was cut for everyone to share.
Eventually, it was getting late and the company were starting to leave.
"I hope you've enjoyed your birthday, Ji Eun-ah. Happy birthday. (੭˃ᴗ˂)੭", I gave her a thumbs up.
"Thanks. ( ⸝⸝´꒳`⸝⸝)", she whispered while trying to hide a faint blush.
"See you tomorrow, then.", as I turned to leave.
"Wait!", she reached out.
"Hm?"
"Nevermind. It's nothing."
"Haha. This time you're the one being strange.", I walked away, laughing to myself.
"Hmpf! babo...", she murmured.
I left the apartment without turning back.
'It's tough being a dense protagonist.'
I mean it's clear as day that she wants something but I can't tell if it's a confession or just a, 'thank you' for the previous incident.
Back then, my friends would've had a blast if they knew that something like this had occurred...
'Friends, huh', I looked towards the sunset while strolling my way back, with a distant gaze.
[ Hidden Quest successfully complete! ]
Huh?
[ Task: Make your childhood friend happy on their birthday (1/1) ]
[ Rewards:
Template is increased by 10%.
Appearance increased by 2.
Charisma is increased by 2.
Intelligence increased by 1.
Strength increased by 0.5 ]
Oy, oy, oy! What the hell, that's more than what I've achieved practicing and exercising for 2 years!
This is injustice, I tell you! Injustice!
[ Status ]
Name: Sung Yeon Woo
Age: 6
Template: Kise Ryota 5.23% > 15.23%
Strength: 1.81 > 2.31
Appearance: 2.95 > 4.95
Charisma: 1.39 > 3.39
Intelligence: 2.15 > 3.15
[ Passive Ability: Lesser Copy Ability.
Due to Kise Ryota's template, host is able to hone his skills for 3 day's worth of eidetic memory, lesser spatial awareness and lesser hand-eye coordination.
Thanks to the expertise above, host has a 20% chance to mimic an action observed for an action that is limited to 4 seconds. ]
Ji Eun, even if you're not IU, you're my angel... ˖ ࣪‧₊˚⋆✩٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و
[A/N: For those that don't know, they have the same name. Are they the same person?¯\_(ツ)_/¯]
-----------------
"Eomma. I want to learn the violin.", I questioned her, out of the blue.
"Yeon Woo-ah, what brought this up?"
"I just think it's fun, and if possible I want to learn music."
After a few moments and, seeing my determined gaze she seemed convinced.
"Hmm, okay. I'll call a few friends, then we can decide if you can have a tutor.", she says as she picked up her phone to make some calls.
"Yay! Thanks, Eomma!", I cheered and went into my room.
'In my previous life as a composer, I've learnt to play the piano and the guitar. Now, I'd like to broaden my horizons by taking a different string instrument as a start.'
"Yeon Woo-ah! Good news, a friend of mine finished one of her shootings and have spare instruments so you can have them! I also have a friend who's interested in tutoring you.", she walked in the room with pride.
"Really?! That's great! I love you, Eomma!", I said as I quickly hugged her in joy.
"Hehe. I love you too, sweetie.", she replied, as she hugged me back.
'Sweeet! It's really fortunate for me as I can sharpen my skills on the other musical tools.'
* * *
A few days later, a grand piano can be seen in the living room with a violin-filled casing and guitar by its side.
'That is.. too much of a coincidence... isn't it All the instruments I'm able to use..? Not that I'm complaining though.'
[ New Quest Received! ]
[ You have started to embark on learning musical instruments in this life! ]
[ Tasks: Play a proper song on each instrument within a six months. (0/3) ]
[ Rewards: ??? (Better rewards if tasks are completed sooner.) ]
'The hell, I haven't even started and you're asking me to play 'proper' songs?
[ New Daily Quests received! ]
[ Play every note on each instrument to familiarise yourself with them! ]
[ C note played on violin 0/200 ]
[ C note played on guitar 0/400 ]
[ C note played piano 0/800 ]
[ Rewards: Charisma is increased by 0.1 per task. ]
'That's.. a lot. I still have half a day, best get to practicing.'