When the autumn sunlight kissed her eyelids and the moist air caressed her skin, Marty finally opened her eyes.
Where am I?
The murmurs of people, the chirping of birds, the sight of unfamiliar cars and motorcycles, the sound of police sirens, and the boundary between towering skyscrapers and low-rise neighborhood buildings. The bustling scene didn't look anything like IDYPIA.
I must be in the past if that message can be believed, but where exactly is this?
People were bustling around, their smiles radiant and energy overflowing. Seeing them, Marty felt a surge of energy herself. Temporarily setting aside the feeling that someone was with her, she briskly walked through the city.
Marty's expression as she surveyed her surroundings was more filled with curiosity than fear. Most of the signs were written in English, but they were spelled differently. And there were places where signs were written in Indonesian instead of English.
Huh?
Marty raised her head and continued reading the signs, but she paused when she saw a billboard on a building. Written in English capital letters, it said, "Project MAVE: Open Auditions."
Auditions?
Just seeing the word 'auditions' ignited a flame in Marty's heart. Even though she didn't remember everything clearly, the emotions she felt back in IDYPIA were still alive within her. And perhaps this attempt signaled the beginning of something new.
Then, the sound of bass and drums came from the direction of the park. Marty's body moved before her mind, already running towards the source. There, Jakarta's leading KPOP female dance crew was practicing their choreography.
Awesome!
As Marty watched the dancers synchronize their movements to the music, her eyes lit up with excitement. She felt drawn in, compelled by a passion to join them.
"Uh? What... what's going on?"
The leader of the dance crew, wearing a snapback, looked surprised as Marty suddenly approached. But Marty's confident next words left them even more bewildered.
"Will you let me join this crew?!"
"Excuse me??"
They were baffled. What would anyone think when a random girl out of nowhere asks to join their crew?
"Sure, why not give her a try?"
"Well..."
But Marty was like an unstoppable locomotive.
"How about giving me a shot, leader? I mean, I look like I'll be hard to contain..."
"Hmm."
One of the crew members standing nearby whispered something to the leader.
"With that level of confidence, she must have some skills. If she's good, great; if not, we won't lose anything by giving her a chance."
"There's not much time left until the auditions, and if she gets in, we'll have to redo the choreography."
"You think we can't handle that?"
"That's not what I meant..."
After being persuaded by the crew members, the leader pondered for a moment.
"What's your name?"
"I'm Marty."
"Alright, Marty. You barged in here like you own the place, so if you don't have the skills, I'll kick your butt out."
"My butt?"
"If you're not confident, you can leave now."
With the leader's words igniting a fire within her, Marty loosened up.
"Fine. I'll do it."
And so, Marty's first audition of her life began.
***
The salty scent of the ocean was followed by the sound of waves crashing. Then came the strange sounds of creatures, not just one, but many. It was a gathering of sea lions and seals, creatures one usually only saw in library books. These animals, oblivious to the beachgoers, lounged on the rocks, basking in the sun.
It was where Tyra had crash-landed. The sandy shores of La Jolla Beach in San Diego teemed with seagulls and sea creatures more than people. Tourists snapped photos and videos of the animals as if they were the main attraction, cooing over their cuteness and exchanging remarks.
Tyra didn't recognize the animals or know what they were called, but their silly faces warmed her heart. The sea lions dozed off on the sand, occasionally taking a dip in the water for a swim. People strolled along the beach, each displaying their own emotions, while upbeat music played from radios parked at the beachfront parking lot. To Tyra's eyes, they seemed remarkably free, radiating vitality and leisure.
So, this is what it means to be alive.
As Tyra walked along the beach, she recalled the writings she'd seen in the library. Back then, she couldn't grasp their meaning because she hadn't experienced the clash of emotions.
Why did SAI Prime erase emotions from this world?
Tyra found it even harder to understand SAI's actions. So she wanted to know more. Why did she have to prove the necessity of emotions?
At that moment, K-pop was playing on a radio parked near the beach.
That music…
Approaching the car, Tyra listened to the music for a while, then began to dance to the beat.
"Bravo!"
A voice came from behind Tyra. Startled, she stopped dancing.
"I was curious about what you were doing in front of my car, so I watched you. You're a good dancer, are you a professional?"
"A dancer?"
The woman had long black hair neatly tied back, wore a fedora, and sported sunglasses, giving off an air of sophistication. Though she wore sunglasses, Tyra could sense her gaze behind them, watching her cautiously.
Tyra stared at the woman's face, which seemed familiar somehow, but her memory failed to recall where she had seen her before.
"Oh, no. Not yet..."
Tyra stumbled over her words, trying to make use of the knowledge she had gained from the digital library.
"Still, I never thought I'd meet a Korean person here..."
"Really?"
"No, it's just that I'm Korean myself... I'm here in California temporarily because of my husband's business. Seeing you reminded me of my daughter back home."
The woman smiled at Tyra. Tyra, sensing something suspicious about her, responded with a cautious smile.
"If it's alright with you, would you like to chat or share a moment together?"
"Oh, well..."
"My name is Yeojin. And yours?"
Yeojin extended her hand first. Tyra hesitated, alternating between looking at Yeojin's hand and her expression, before finally shaking hands.
"My name is Tyra. Tyra."
"Tyra... What a beautiful name. Oh, by any chance, are you in a girl group?"
"Oh no, not at all..."
"Really? Well then, if you're interested, how about auditioning to be in one? Our husband's friend is a producer, and he's preparing for a global audition."
"An audition?"
"Yes, an audition. I think you'd be more than capable, don't you?"
Caught off guard by the sudden suggestion, Tyra found herself in a dilemma. Sensing Tyra's hesitation, Yeojin chuckled and covered her mouth with her hand.
"Oh, ha ha. I'm sorry. I guess I pushed too hard. You probably need some time to think about it, right?"
"Yes."
"Here, take this. It's my business card."
Yeojin handed her business card to Tyra.
"If you ever have any thoughts or decisions, please do reach out. I'm sure you'll be able to make it happen."
With that, Yeojin got into her car and drove away, leaving Tyra standing there for a moment. It felt like a whirlwind had passed through her mind as soon as she landed in the past.
But it's not a bad thing.
Tyra found herself smiling involuntarily.
It was a brightness she couldn't have imagined in the future. And here, she believed she could dream of the future she wanted.
***
When Zena opened her eyes, the first sight she beheld was the Eiffel Tower and the village, all painted in white. The view from the attic window on the second floor was starkly different from IDYPIA. People looked delighted at the falling snow, yet some frowned at the traffic caused by it. Some cautiously treaded the slippery streets, mindful of the risk of slipping.
Zena was thrilled beyond measure. All sorts of emotions, big and small, that she had only dreamed of seemed to be bouncing around everywhere.
Lost in contemplation for a moment, she was interrupted by the waft of warm tomato scent coming from the kitchen. Downstairs, the elderly couple who owned the house were making ratatouille for themselves.
"Are you up?"
"Almost done. Come sit here."
The old woman, busy cooking various vegetables in the pan, welcomed Zena downstairs with a smile, while the elderly man with white stubble pulled out a chair for her. They treated her not as a guest but as their granddaughter.
"Thank you."
Zena replied with courtesy as she took her seat. It was indeed fortunate for a person stranded in an unfamiliar place to be treated to a meal.
Just a few hours earlier, when Zena first appeared, the elderly couple had been pleasantly surprised and allowed her to rest in the attic without asking for anything in return.
Zena was touched and amazed by the warmth she encountered for the first time. She had never read about such hospitality in books when an outsider suddenly appeared in someone else's home. Instead of calling the police, they provided her with a place to rest and food.
"Have you calmed down a bit now?" the old woman asked casually.
"Yes, thank you so much."
Zena expressed her gratitude sincerely. She thought that all she could offer in return for their kindness was just that.
But the elderly couple didn't seem to mind. The mere presence of her had completely changed the atmosphere of the house.
They prepared dinner with care, opting for homemade meals rather than their usual dining out. Although simpler compared to dining out, that evening's dinner was more exquisite than ever.
Zena couldn't help but wonder.
Now that I see how important emotions are, why did the people in IDYPIA decide to get of them in the first place?
After finishing their meal, the old man sat on the sofa and played the guitar, while his wife sang along. It was a truly harmonious and warm atmosphere.
As Zena listened to the song, she hummed along, adding harmonies to the old woman's singing. The elderly couple was surprised.
"Wow, how can your voice be so beautiful?"
"Why don't you continue singing?"
Encouraged by the enthusiastic guitar playing of the old man, Zena did her best to respond with her clear voice.
After the song ended, the elderly couple couldn't stop smiling.
"Your voice is truly beautiful."
"If you're okay with it, dear, why don't you stay with us and continue singing together?"
At the old woman's request, Zena thought of the family she had in IDYPIA. They couldn't truly be called family. Compared to them, the couple holding her hand now were the ones who could truly feel emotions.
Zena nodded her head.
With Zena's acceptance, the elderly couple continued singing joyfully, and Zena added harmonies.
She had longed to sing so much, but the future where it seemed impossible was no longer there.
She was happy.
And she sincerely prayed for this happiness to last a long time.
***
As the still chilly spring breeze of Jeju continued to caress Siu's cheeks, the glow of dusk painted the sea. Nightfall was just a few minutes away. Twilight was truly a moment on the verge of night.
Siu slowly walked along the coastline, her thoughts accumulating as she ran until dusk fell and darkness descended. With each breath, she organized her thoughts, but there were no friends with whom she had sung and danced in IDYPIA. The same was true for the others. They were no longer under the control of brain chips, their minds only filled with the proof of the necessity of emotions.
Okay, I'll do it.
Siu gazed beyond the now darkened horizon, relying on the moonlight. A stone hut near the basalt cliffs faced the sea with dignity.
With my voice.
Siu began to sing, pouring her heart into her voice. Her song spread, drawing the attention of passersby on their night walks. Seeing people gather, others joined in, and the place turned into a makeshift concert hall.
What she had longed to do in IDYPIA but couldn't, she could achieve here. When Siu finished her song, the crowd of over a hundred cheered and applauded. Seeing the people cheering for her, Siu couldn't contain her joy and smiled brighter than ever before.
But at the same time, she felt a lingering emptiness. There was someone who was supposed to be there with her at times like these, but she couldn't remember. Yet, somehow, she felt like this feeling wouldn't last long. She had a premonition that she would meet them again somewhere, someday.
And there was a man listening to her song. It was none other than AG241, who had returned to the past. He stood still for a while. There was neither sadness, fear, nor anger in his expression. Yet, it didn't mean he felt nothing like the people of IDYPIA. On the contrary, he felt a flood of emotions rushing in. It was confusing, but his heart was at peace. And he remembered. The music that had come from the wireless earphones someone had given him.
Lost in thought, he followed the sound of the waves, slowly moving away from Siu.
"Is that the girl?"
And there were others watching Siu from afar.
"Yes, that's the one I've been looking for. Perhaps she'll fulfill our dreams."
"Well, I suppose. She seems to sing well, but don't we still need to see more?"
"So, let's wait and see a bit more? Are you planning to let her slip away again, Director?"
"Oh, alright. Just calm down a bit. Madam Chair."
In response to the sarcasm from the middle-aged woman in a black suit referred to as the Chairwoman, the young woman in a dark gray suit, addressed as the Director, furrowed her brow and fidgeted with her unfamiliar glasses before speaking up.
Somehow, she could vaguely understand the Chairwoman's intentions, which seemed unusually hurried. The Chairwoman was considering the girl who had just sung. Moreover, she seemed to be planning to gather three more individuals besides that girl to form a group of four.
"Still, just keeping an eye on them for a while wouldn't hurt, right? I need some time to sort out my thoughts as well."
At the Director's words, the Chairwoman nodded in agreement.
"Well, that's true. I was hasty."
"No, boss."
As the Chairwoman apologized, the Director seemed flustered.
"Boss, then how should we proceed with our audition preparations?"
"We should continue. We can't suddenly cancel what we've already been preparing for, right? And if that girl participates in the audition, we can compare her skills with those of the other hopefuls."
Observing the boss, who seemed deeply engrossed in thoughts about Siu, the Director didn't say anything further.
"...Well, anyway, understood. We'll proceed as planned."
"Yes, this audition will take place not only in Korea but also in the United States, France, Indonesia, Japan, and other countries, so please prepare without any delay."
"Of course."
With that, they concluded their conversation and left the place.
MAVE: Audition D-100
Would you like to apply? (Y/N)
- Fin -