"They… Aren't they going to eat?"
"I'm hungry. We should eat chicken."
It had already been over an hour and a half since Park Moondae and Seon Ahyeon locked themselves in their room.
Bae Sejin, who was sitting on the bed and willingly yielded his desk to Kim Raebin, who was playing the keyboard, thought impatiently.
'No… Don't tell me they're drinking.'
Bae Sejin checked the refrigerator just in case, but there was no sign of alcohol. Since no one had ever bought it in the first place, he knew that it was speculation.
'I thought mediation wasn't necessary.'
Although Seon Ahyeon, who had just entered in the morning, looked a bit dazed, it was because the atmosphere seemed a lot less serious.
Bae Sejin felt a bit relieved.
"It seems like they're having a good conversation."
A knife-like answer came back.
"That's right. I had no idea why he borrowed my laptop, but I hope it helped the two of them to have a deep conversation!"
"… Hmm, yes."
Bae Sejin decided to dispel his suspicions. It was because he was a bit embarrassed because he felt like he was the only one who was so anxious about this in the first place.
'Still, I'd like someone to confirm it.'
Should he text him?
However, not long after Bae Sejin thought so hard, Park Moondae called Ryu Chungwoo and Lee Sejin, and entered the room for a while.
'They're the same age after all.'
(TN: Bae Sejin is only talking about Lee Sejin here, not Ryu Chungwoo. I'm not sure why the author worded it like this.)
It was a selection that made it clear why they were called.
Bae Sejin was still a bit disappointed as the eldest member, but he soon remembered his narration and understood it.
No, he was relieved.
'I'm glad it wasn't me who called…'
And like a lie, the idea became reality.
The two of them who had been called came out two hours later, with a tired look on their faces.
Even Lee Sejin waved his hand and disappeared into the kitchen to drink water without saying a word.
'… ?'
Bae Sejin was taken aback.
"What's the matter?"
"Hmm."
Ryu Chungwoo smiled bitterly and shook his head.
"Moondae isn't very normal."
"… What?"
"He was logically persuading Seon Ahyeon."
They weren't supposed to be having some kind of debate, so what was he talking about?
Bae Sejin asked involuntarily.
"What?"
"Well, maybe this is his way of making up?"
"… ??"
Was he reconciling using logical persuasion?
Something like that… Was it possible?
However, Ryu Chungwoo added a word with an airy smile.
"It went well."
"… ??"
Bae Sejin was even more confused.
However, it was true that something similar was happening in the room.
• * *
'Good.'
I nodded.
The two guys who entered the room was put to good use in every form of proof.
Keundal and the three of us talked by writing, answering the questions the three of us made in random order, drawing random pictures, and describing what Seon Ahyeon was holding…
As the number of people increased, the process became more and more astronomically complex, and there were fewer and fewer holes to suspect deception.
Seon Ahyeon no longer had a need to come up with methods on his own.
'There's no need to have a fight.'
All proofs went smoothly. Thanks to the Keundal, there was no corner that got in the way.
Although Ryu Chungwoo looked at me with a little meaning.
- You could have done something like this.
"… …""
It was a kind of telepathic twin gaze.
Should I only have invited Keun Sejin?
Anyway, both guys did a good job. In particular, as soon as Seon Ahyeon's barrier was lowered, Keun Sejin hit my contradiction very well.
- Moondae has a different curriculum from ours. Isn't he much more knowledgeable about every school subject than we are? You thought you heard wrong?
- He knows how to drive too. Last time, he unknowingly taught manager hyung. Ahyeon hasn't seen Park Moondae studying for a driver's license, right?
I wanted to shut him up a few times, but the effect of improving the situation was outstanding, so I passed it.
And as time passed, Seon Ahyeon began to actively come up with test methods.
By that point, I was starting to feel a bit nervous and exhausted.
-Th-then… I-I will ask any question, and y-you will answer it.
-Okay.
And now after countless resets and iterations…
"… …"
"… …"
Seon Ahyeon was looking at the empty space with a blank face. He seemed to have completely abandoned his obsession with notes.
'He was holding onto it like a rope, and he finally let it go.'
Questions and keywords were strewn about on the notes.
-Magic
-No electronics…
-Other people
Of course, everything was lined up.
Seon Ahyeon's doubts were being destroyed one by one.
At this point, this guy had no choice but to admit it.
That I wasn't a madman, but a guy with some sort of reason.
"Any other questions?"
"… …"
The place where the two invited as guests went out was quiet. After tidying up Kim Raebin's computer, I sat across from Seon Ahyeon.
I heard the sound of Seon Ahyeon swallowing.
And I raised my head.
"… N-no."
Confidence returned to the eyes of the guy who answered.
"I don't have any questions."
A resolute answer as if everything was brushed off without any hindrance.
'Yes.'
It was worth squeezing out everything I had for four hours.
I gave my fist a rest, then released it.
"… Okay."
It wasn't over yet. If I asked him, 'Do you believe me?' there would be many different outcomes.
'If I finish like this, there are definitely things that will make him feel uncomfortable later on.'
That was why I had to speak first.
"Of course, just because this nonsense is possible doesn't mean that what I said is true."
"… ! U-um."
Power and truth were not the same thing. Just because some crazy guy did magic didn't mean that everything he said was true.
'That's a complete scam.'
So I must say this.
Blocking the source.
"But there's no benefit to me if I lied about this."
"… …"
"You might already know this, but frankly, we're currently in a position where we have everything we need."
Money, fame, and social status.
We were now standing at the peak of this short-lived occupational group, so there was no reason to obsess over things above it now unless there was a downward trend in a few years.
We already had a lot of things.
Even looking at it objectively, the idol 'Park Moondae' was in a state where both material desire and recognition were satisfied.
"There is no reason for me to say crazy things with this ability."
And surprisingly, Seon Ahyeon replied immediately.
"I-I never thought of it like that."
"… !"
"Moo-Moondae… I never thought that you were lying."
"… Okay."
I didn't expect to hear this.
But it wasn't a bad feeling.
- Th-that's right. Moondae is not the kind of person to lie about something like this… Of course, I know.
'At that time… Did he mean what he said?'
The short flashback was over.
… Thanks to that, I could move on to the next part without delay.
After a short pause, I spoke.
"Then let's look at the hypothesis that I mistook myself for someone else."
I had to explain why this wasn't valid.
Why did 'Park Moondae' mistake 'Ryu Gunwoo' as himself? It was an awkward proposition.
'Let's prove that…'
I smiled bitterly.
"'Ryu Gunwoo'… Now you know, but I didn't live a life that 'Park Moondae' could envy."
"… !"
Both were orphans and lived busy lives to make ends meet.
It was easy to tell that they were similar, but if his mental state were to change… Wouldn't it be more understandable to be envious or imagine someone better than yourself?
"Even Park Moondae's brain completely flips over and he mistakes himself for someone else, it wouldn't be him."
It would be better if it was Ryu Chungwoo, but Ryu Gunwoo was not qualified.
"So, that hypothesis honestly doesn't make sense either."
And unlike that hypothesis, so far I had spent hours proving to support my claim.
Seon Ahyeon looked at me with trembling eyes.
I unlaced my hands.
"This is all I prepared."
"… …"
"I think I did everything I could. Honestly, at this point, I have no further proof."
I spoke frankly.
I was fully qualified to say this after I had been talking for such a long time without leaving a single gap between the needles.
"I mobilized everyone I could, and I said everything I could say."
Seon Ahyeon nodded slowly.
The mood was right for him to say, "That's right, Moondae. I believe you now."
I chuckled.
"So… I won't ask what you think."
"Wh-what?"
Wasn't it obvious with this guy's personality? What would happen if he admitted that I seemed fine now even though he told me to go to a hospital previously?
'He'll blame himself until his head breaks again.'
There was no need to wait and see. Therefore… It was time for him to calm down.
"I can't make you believe everything all at once. Take your time and doubt as much as you like. You can continue to do it."
"C-continue… ?"
"Yes. In the future, if you have any doubts, you can ask me anything, and I will continue to answer."
"… …"
Seon Ahyeon opened his mouth.
This guy was not the type who made noise with malice, so it was okay to do something like this.
Well, I had gone this far now, so it was questionable whether there would be people who didn't believe it, but honestly, wasn't it normal to believe me at this point?
Still, I had to try putting it on full charge.
'I'm trying to make things okay.'
I looked at him with near certainty.
"Th-thank you… Moondae."
However, Seon Ahyeon reluctantly did not nod.
"But, e-even if you don't do that, i-it's okay."
"… !"
"I-I… I showed you a lot of unreliable sides."
Seon Ahyeon squeezed both of his hands tightly.
"B-but Moondae has been working so hard for so long, t-to the extent that you couldn't admit it yourself. A-and if I have any doubts…"
Seon Ahyeon took a deep breath.
"F-first… I'll think it through and o-organize my thoughts carefully… A-and if my doubts still don't disappear by then… Only then I'll ask you."
"… …"
"Really… I believe you, Moo-Moondae."
Oh.
"Okay."
I held out my hand to Seon Ahyeon. Seon Ahyeon reached out and took it. It wasn't that cold this time.
"I look forward to your continued cooperation."
"Yes."
It was a handshake we hadn't done in a few days.
• * *
Finally, Park Moondae and Seon Ahyeon came out to the living room.
And all the TeStar members who saw the atmosphere between the two realized that the conflict was well resolved.
"Good job. The winner eats chicken!"
"Cha Eugene! Your way of talking…"
"Okay. You buy it instead."
"… ! If Moondae hyung says so…"
"No, not you."
The usual mischievous stories passed by.
And the night when the leader made a schedule-related phone call to the company with a smile…
"Ahyeon-ah~"
"Yes."
When Seon Ahyeon, who was standing on the veranda, turned his head, Lee Sejin smiled and stood beside him.
"Why are you here alone, aren't you eating chicken?"
"I-it's okay."
Seon Ahyeon smiled faintly.
"I guess Ahyeon has a lot on his mind."
Lee Sejin hit his shoulders and laughed. His mood softened.
However, Seon Ahyeon did not shake his hand or spill his feelings.
"… Yes. A little."
He just answered plainly. However, Lee Sejin picked up the right track.
"Hmm… Are you worried that you could have done a little better?"
"… … !"
Yes.
After the conflict was resolved, Seon Ahyeon made an objective judgment while looking back at the incident without getting caught.
'… I wasn't thinking rationally.'
The moment he first heard the story of Park Moondae, he was terrified, and thanks to that, he was buried in it.
So, step by step, without asking Lee Sejin or Ryu Chungwoo, who already knew about the situation, he crazily developed anxiety inside.
This conflict was a product of his own weakness.
He just wanted to talk about this fact.
Seon Ahyeon opened his mouth.
"Yes, a-a little bit. I guess so. N-next time I have to do better."
However, what came out of his mouth was only a light statement.
"Okay, Sejin will do the same~"
"F-fighting."
Seon Ahyeon thought about the conclusion over and over again and decided not to repeat his thoughts and apologize to those around him.
'That… It's because I want their hearts to be at ease.'
Even if he tried, only Park Moondae would be more burdened, and it would only cause pain to the group.
Going through all these situations, Seon Ahyeon felt one thing desperately.
'If he wants to share his baggage, I have to carry mine properly first.'
He had to show that he could handle it so that they could share the burden.
Rather than trying to show his qualifications, he had to be the right kind of person first.
'My share is something I have to handle on my own.'
However, Seon Ahyeon would leave his distrust of Park Moondae as an object of self-criticism and self-disipline.
Seon Ahyeon decided to do so without borrowing anyone's judgment.
He had to do it on his own.
So, in a surprisingly light tone, he ended his remarks.
"Hmm, sh-shall we go eat chicken?"
"Oh~ Sounds good."
The two of them, who were standing on the veranda, left and went back to the living room. It was a wonderful return.
But inside of him, he had made an unusual decision.
And the next morning…
"He-hello, Moondae."
"Yes…"
Park Moondae, who came out the door and met Seon Ahyeon, confirmed a fact that he didn't expect.
[Characteristic: Resilience]
[! Abnormal Status: Lack of self-esteem (inactive)]
"… … ?"
Seon Ahyeon's status abnormality had returned to its inactive state.
Without any help.
'What?'
Park Moondae was trying to speed up his plan to reactivate the characteristic today, based on the trust he regained from yesterday's crazy 5-hour proof relay.
'Did I see it wrong?'
Park Moondae almost looked at Seon Ahyeon, frowning.
But first, he saw something else.
[Resilience (S): Your mindset is what you created yourself. Therefore, it's entirely manageable.]
-When activated, mental abnormalities are offset. (Duplicate application possible)
(TN: In case you didn't notice, Seon Ahyeon's special characteristic upgraded from A to S!)
"Moo-Moondae… ?"
Park Moondae read one more sentence that caught his eye.
[Your mindset is what you created yourself.]
Yes.
He didn't know what kind of change of heart there was, but last night, Seon Ahyeon broke his slump and reactivated his characteristic.
Maybe Park Moondae would be able to guess the mechanism in the future, but…
'Still… Isn't this okay?'
Seon Ahyeon overcame it on his own. He himself would know.
Park Moondae looked at Seon Ahyeon with slight admiration since he managed to get rid of the status abnormality that was like a curse.
… Of course, if a problem arose in this way usually, he would find a way to get rid of it from the cause to the result.
Not today though.
"Let's eat."
"Yes… !"
The next day, TeStar resumed their activities as scheduled with the announcement of 'condition recovery'.
And while they were on track again, the first Billboard chart was announced.
It was the beginning of a great upheaval.