Chapter 415: Reunion - Kang Joo-Han and Goh Yoo-Joon’s story (1)

Meanwhile, two people stood in the spacious hallway of Chronos’ dorm, looking bewildered.

“...Do you understand what's going on?” Joo-Han asked, his voice tinged with confusion.

“How would I, hyung?” Goh Yoo-Joon replied, shaking his head.

“Right, of course...”

The two of them, Joo-Han and Yoo-Joon, muttered quietly while watching Jin-Sung and Suh Hyun-Woo converse at the far end of the hallway.

What on earth was happening? Just moments ago, they had been in the studio and exchanged opinions on a song. But where were they now? They found themselves in an unfamiliar place, observing the alive and well Suh Hyun-Woo and a younger version of Jin-Sung. And then there was the strange pop-up window that appeared clearly before them.

[Second Condition: Choose]

“...”

Joo-Han, who had been standing motionless, tapped his waist with his fist. “Is it normal that my back suddenly hurts less?”

“What are you talking about?”

“No, seriously. It feels like my herniated disk problem is gone.” Joo-Han knocked his waist harder and nodded. Yes, the severe back pain that had tormented him for so long had definitely lessened. It still hurt, but it was much lighter.

Yoo-Joon glanced at Joo-Han and nodded. “Hyung, you look a bit younger. Is it just my imagination?”

“Yeah, my back feels younger too.”

“No, not that.” Yoo-Joon grabbed Joo-Han’s shoulders and turned him around. A large mirror reflected Joo-Han directly in front of him. Joo-Han stared at himself, then leaned closer to the mirror as he got startled.

“What the...”

“It’s not just your back. We’ve gotten younger. Something’s weird.”

Was it a dream? It felt too vivid for a dream. But, if it wasn’t a dream, something was definitely off. Yoo-Joon frowned deeply. A younger self, a younger Joo-Han and Jin-Sung, and an alive Suh Hyun-Woo were all too strange. It didn’t make sense, but it felt like they had returned to their trainee days.

‘But that’s impossible.’

How could such a thing happen? After a brief hesitation, Yoo-Joon spoke. “Hey, Kang Joo-Han.”

“What the heck,” Joo-Han cursed and smacked Yoo-Joon on the back.

“Ow!”

“Even after getting older, you’re still like this. You are impressive in many ways.”

Yoo-Joon rubbed his sore back and frowned. It definitely hurt, so this wasn’t a dream. The two were clearly confused by their situation. But soon, they had to stop talking again.

‘It’s definitely a dream, but...’

There was someone they wanted to see, even if just in a dream—Suh Hyun-Woo. Even if it wasn’t real, it felt great to see him alive and talking. Joo-Han and Yoo-Joon watched the two conversing, almost mesmerized by the sight. The conversation between Jin-Sung and Suh Hyun-Woo gradually became clearer.

“The creator god? What are you talking about...? What do you mean by choices? What are you doing here?”

Joo-Han and Yoo-Joon exchanged puzzled looks as they wondered what those two were talking about. It sounded like a small argument. Or perhaps Suh Hyun-Woo was scolding Jin-Sung. One thing was clear—every word of their conversation was unusual.

Creator God... Were they possibly talking about a game?

“Whatever choice you make, don’t think foolishly. Got it? Lee Jin-Sung, don’t do anything stupid and just think about how to get back to your original world.”

“...What?”

“Don’t say you will do anything for me. Just go back to your world and live your life. If you disappear again...”

‘I stopped gaming a long time ago,’

Yoo-Joon thought. The words sounded like something from a game, unfamiliar and strange. Or maybe it was a dream inspired by a movie he’d recently seen.

Just then, Jin-Sung’s voice, sounding just as confused as Joo-Han and Yoo-Joon, changed.

“Hyun-Woo hyung, is that you?”

He acted as if he had just noticed Suh Hyun-Woo, who had been there all along. Now it was Suh Hyun-Woo’s turn to look flustered and avoid Jin-Sung’s gaze.

“I’m sorry, but I don't want to have a deep conversation with you.”

What on earth were they talking about?

The conversation was too vivid for a dream, but the topic was incomprehensible. Even the sharp-witted Joo-Han couldn’t say anything. He just frowned in confusion.

“Joo-Han hyung, do you understand what they’re talking about?”

“No idea.”

Ah...

Joo-Han sighed and started walking. “Let’s just go ask them directly.”

“Wait, really?”

“It’s a dream, so what? They’re both younger than me.”

“Do you also think this is a dream?”

Joo-Han didn’t answer Yoo-Joon’s question, and he continued to walk briskly. As Yoo-Joon followed him, another large blue window appeared in their view.

[Notification] Special event condition met!

The regressor has revealed his identity. The deferred choices will be forcibly reviewed, and lost memories will be unlocked.

- Caution! Make your choice within twenty-four hours! If you don't choose, everything will revert to its original state.

“What?”

“What is this?”

They hadn't done anything, yet it said they had completed something.

‘Is this a game?’

Were they dreaming about a game? As these thoughts crossed their minds, another window popped up in front of them.

[Deferred Choices]

- Accompany the regressor

(The regressor’s world will be integrated, and players will be synchronized)

- Keep your world

(You will return to the original world, and the regressor will remain here)

※ If the world is integrated, your physical body will disappear (due to the regressor's choice), and the memories will be transferred to the current world’s Kang Joo-Han/Goh Yoo-Joon.

“The current world?”

“Wait a second, isn’t this a bit dangerous for us?” Joo-Han suddenly asked, his expression serious.

“Huh?” Yoo-Joon just shrugged nonchalantly. “It's just a dream anyway.”

Even if it got dangerous, it would still be just a dream. Yoo-Joon glanced at Suh Hyun-Woo, who had been scolding Jin-Sung earlier, but now looked deeply worried. Then, another notification sound echoed, and more text appeared.

[Unlocking Lost Memory - The Beginning of the Story]

“The Beginning of the Story?”

At that moment, memories they didn’t know existed began to flood their minds.

***

At 4 PM, the door to Kang Joo-Han’s studio creaked open with a rustling sound.

“Hyung.”

After hearing the voice, Joo-Han turned his head to see a large coffee cup thrust through the crack in the door.

“What are you doing?” Joo-Han chuckled. Only then did Yoo-Joon laugh and step through the doorway. He shook the coffee he was holding and looked around.

“Jin-Sung isn’t here today?”

“Would he come knowing you’d be here? You always make him uncomfortable,” Joo-Han replied.

Yoo-Joon shrugged. It wasn’t like he intended to make Jin-Sung uncomfortable. It was just that... Due to past events, Jin-Sung had become a bit awkward around him. Not wanting to dwell on it, Yoo-Joon changed the subject. “How’s work going?”

Joo-Han rolled his eyes but nodded. “It's going alright. This song feels a bit monotonous no matter what I do.”

“Hasn't it been almost ten years since you made this song?”

“Yeah. Want to hear it?”

Without waiting for Yoo-Joon’s answer, Joo-Han played the song. Yoo-Joon listened intently, and his eyebrows raised in approval. “I think it’s great. Good enough not to edit it.”

“Don’t you think it’s a bit dull? Feels like it needs more embellishment.”

“That’s just because you’ve improved so much since you made it. To me, it doesn’t feel lacking at all.”

“...Really? I honestly like it the way it is.” Joo-Han sighed in relief and stopped the music. “I guess I will wrap it up here. I don’t really have more time to work on it anyway.”

“It’s more than enough. The song is great. The problem is elsewhere.” Yoo-Joon gave Joo-Han a knowing look.

Joo-Han gave a bitter smile. The problem wasn’t the song. The real issue was that the person he made it for didn’t even know it existed and might not even accept it.

“Since he’s in New York today, I probably won’t be able to reach him. But when he gets back, I will ask if he will accept it.”

Will he accept it or reject it like everything else?

“Did you decide on a title?” Yoo-Joon asked.

Joo-Han nodded immediately. “Of course. I decided a long time ago, back when I made it.”

He never imagined things would turn out this way, but he had intended it as a gift.

“I made this song for Hyun-Woo. If he doesn’t want it, I will just throw it away.”

Yoo-Joon glanced at the monitor.

“Once Again?

What does it mean?”

“It’s the feeling I had watching Hyun-Woo during our trainee days.”

Yes, the song was titled "Once Again." It was originally meant as a debut gift for Suh Hyun-Woo. But as Hyun-Woo’s debut fell through, the song was shelved. Recently, Joo-Han had resumed working on it as he hoped to give it to Hyun-Woo, who had started walking the path of a trainer.