We couldn’t help but be surprised by the sudden greeting from Python.
“Yes, thank you. We’ve been listening to [Poison Heart] too.”
Thanks to our practical leader Yoo Seol’s bright smile, we were able to respond without awkwardness.
“Ah, compared to Rookies, ours must have been lacking… Thank you so much for listening.”
“No, rather, we’ve learned a lot from Python’s songs. We look forward to your next release. Well then…”
On the surface, it looked like new girl groups debuting at the same time were warmly exchanging greetings, and it should have ended there.
But…
“Are you going back right now?”
“…What? Ah, …yes.”
“Our Python and Rookies are practically sister groups that debuted on the same day, right? Wouldn’t it be nice to foster some friendships while we’re here?”
The leader of Python wasn’t keen on letting us leave just yet, insisting on the friendship angle.
As we were panicking, our manager stepped in.
“Haha, sorry, but we have our next schedule.”
“There’s a music show recording tomorrow morning, but a schedule in the evening? Ah, am I making you uncomfortable…?”
“……”
Seeing the Python leader act sad and bow her head made our manager look helplessly at us.
The other members also had confused expressions, not understanding why their leader was acting that way.
Even the members and manager of Python looked puzzled, tilting their heads at their leader’s unusual behavior.
Only I could understand what was going on with Python’s leader.
‘She wants to create a chance to talk to me…’
…Honestly, I wanted to chat with her too.
So, even as a scarecrow, I, the leader of Rookies, said to my members.
“We will be seeing each other often in the future. It doesn’t hurt to at least say hello for a bit…”
“……”
Whatever it was, the Rookies members listened to me quite well.
As I accepted the Python leader’s suggestion, they started nodding one by one.
“Shall we then.”
“If Ye-rin wants it…”
And thus began the opportunity for friendship between Rookies and Python.
*
Friendship wasn’t anything special.
It was just the managers exchanging business cards while the members introduced themselves briefly.
There were a total of four members in Python.
While pretending to greet them, I peeked at their status windows in order.
And…
‘…Wow.’
I couldn’t help but admire as soon as I saw the first and second members of Python.
‘What are these stats…?’
The two of them had impressive hexagonal stats.
To be honest, our Rookies members tended to lean heavily toward one side.
Except for Yoo Seol, Park Yoo-jung, and Seo Yoo-jin, who had good balance…
Lee Hye-jeong had outstanding vocal ability but was a bit weak in dance,
and Na Han-na and I had very high dance stats but lacked in vocals.
But right in front of me, these two Python members had stats aligned as if they had some kind of symmetry obsession.
If I had to sum it up, they felt like slightly lesser versions of Yoo Seol?
Anyway, they were impressive individuals.
‘Next is… Huh?’
Then I opened the status window of the third member, the leader of Python, and was momentarily taken aback.
[Name: Hitomi Kanna]
First off, this member was the only Japanese among both Rookies and Python.
‘She looks like a doll.’
Her cute appearance stood out like a well-made doll.
The stats were also better than the first two members. They were even high enough to be considered comparable to Yoo Seol, though slightly lower.
But that wasn’t what shocked me.
[Trait: Pervert – There are various types of love in this world. It’s just that your love feels a bit unpleasant to ordinary people.]
[Trait Effect: Hoo-hoo – Your face turns red and your breath becomes rough in front of objects of sexual interest.]
…What the…
I think this is the worst trait I’ve ever seen, even worse than Seo Yoo-jin’s arrogant trait.
Just when I was about to make a slightly awkward face…
Swish-.
“…?”
“Hoo-hoo… Yes, Ye-rin-chan. I’m a fan.”
“……”
I looked ahead and saw Kanna blushing while extending her hand for a handshake.
“Yes, I’ve been keeping up with videos from the press conference… Ah, no… the fan-cams. It’s nice to meet you…”
“……”
“…Ye-rin-chan? Why are you looking at me with such a disgusted expression…? Is there a problem…?”
“…Oh, no. It’s nice to meet you too.”
Though I replied, I felt way too awkward to shake her hand.
“Hiiing… She ignored my hand… How cruel…”
Kanna muttered with a voice like she was about to cry, but I ignored that and turned my head away.
‘Finally going to check…’
The last one remaining is the leader of Python, who seems suspiciously like a regressioner.
Just then, the Python leader finished greeting other Rookies members and looked my way.
I made eye contact with her and said…
“Nice to meet you. I’m Ha Ye-rin, the leader of Rookies.”
“Yes, I’m O Ah-ra, the leader of Python.”
I checked her status window.
And…
[Unable to view the opponent’s status window.]
“……!”
I was faced with a notification I had never seen before.
Unable to view the opponent’s status window?
This was so bewildering.
But it seemed I wasn’t the only one feeling disoriented.
“……”
The bright smile of Python’s leader, O Ah-ra, had stiffened.
If my guess is right… she also must’ve tried to view my status window and failed.
Okay.
Now we know we are special to each other.
So now what do we do?
Should we just go back… or should we take more time to uncover each other’s identities?
It seemed O Ah-ra was more anxious.
“…Manager oppa.”
“Huh?”
“I need a bit of time to speak alone with the leader of Rookies.”
“…What?”
O Ah-ra’s words made the Python manager scratch his head in confusion, but…
“Ah… we don’t have much time, so keep it short.”
It seemed that O Ah-ra had taken the reins of this situation, and he couldn’t oppose her.
Once the manager permitted, O Ah-ra nodded and turned to me.
“Ye-rin, will you have a moment to talk with me?”
“……”
I hesitated for a moment and then asked my manager.
“Oppa, can I talk with Ah-ra for a bit?”
Our manager looked puzzled by the sudden situation but checked the time and said.
“…We have to go, so we don’t have much time. Just about 10 minutes?”
“Yes, I’ll be off for a bit.”
Many idols had already left the broadcast station, leaving empty waiting rooms everywhere.
“Shall we talk over there?”
“Yes, let’s.”
There was an empty waiting room ahead, so O Ah-ra and I walked in that direction to talk.
Thud.
Just then, Yoo Seol grabbed my arm as I was following behind O Ah-ra, looking worried.
“…Ye-rin. Do you know Python’s leader?”
“…No, not really.”
“Then why so suddenly do you have something to talk about alone?”
“That’s…”
Swish.
I took a moment before letting go of Yoo Seol’s hand on my wrist and said.
“…I guess I’ll find out now.”
And I entered the waiting room.
*
Finally, I could chat alone with O Ah-ra.
What is this person’s true identity…? Is she someone who can see status windows too?
Even though we hadn’t spoken yet, I felt a growing tension and wariness.
But…
“Ye-rin.”
Contrary to my nervousness, O Ah-ra smiled brightly as soon as we were alone.
And she seemed quite delighted…
“You’re a regressioner too, right?”
“……!”
She hit me with a question out of nowhere.
‘I didn’t expect her to ask so openly…’
Unlike me, who was cautious, O Ah-ra had a harmless expression as if she posed no threat.
‘…Right, I might be overthinking it.’
So, after a brief moment of resolve…
“Yes, that’s right.”
I confessed the truth.
Grab.
“…!”
Then O Ah-ra clasped my hand gleefully and began bouncing up and down.
“Wow, amazing! I had no idea there would be someone like me!”
“Ah, yes. I thought I was the only one who came back…”
“So, Ye-rin, can you see the status window too?”
“…Yes, I can see it.”
When I mentioned I could see the status window, O Ah-ra calmed down a little and asked.
“…Then can you see my status window?”
“No, I can’t. The way you phrase it makes it sound like you can see mine too…?”
After I mentioned I couldn’t see her status window, O Ah-ra sighed as if relieved.
“Yes, I can’t see Ye-rin’s status window either. That’s why I was so confused earlier. But it’s a relief that you can’t see mine either.”
Relief…?
…Is it really something to be relieved about?
I tilted my head for a moment, and O Ah-ra playfully pointed at the couch.
“Instead of standing here, shall we chat over there?”
“Oh, yes.”
“We don’t have much time, so let’s hurry and talk. I want to hear about you, Ye-rin.”
“…About me?”
“Yes, I want to know how you ended up regressing… what you were like before that and what’s on your status window.”
As she spoke, her eyes sparkled with curiosity.
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