Chapter 34

"Gift?"

What gift are they talking about?

I looked around to see if there was a gift box, but there was nothing.

The managers were empty-handed, and our kids were empty-handed too.

"I don't see anything."

"It's not here. We need to go somewhere else."

They all had a look in their eyes like they were plotting something.

To top it off, our team's rapper was holding a blindfold. When I looked at him, he smiled and held it out to me.

"...You want me to wear a blindfold too?"

"It's a surprise gift, bro."

"Really, I'm surprised in so many ways."

I put on the blindfold reluctantly.

Everything went dark.

Now, the only sensations I could feel were the cool air of the recording studio and the sound of idle chatter.

"Okay, let's go, bro."

I stood up, hearing Biju's calm voice.

Someone grabbed my arm and led me. It felt like Jung-hyun.

I could also hear Ji-ho's laughter.

"Bro, you look just like Rishin when you do that."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It's a character from a game, an old guy like you... Ahh...!"

I couldn't see, but I could guess by the sound and smacked him.

Ri-hyuk made a sound like he was dying.

The youngest member groaned and said, bewildered, "How can you hit someone when you can't see?"

"Do you still expect logic from this guy? Last time, he even knocked out the CEO and the manager."

"Knocked out?"

I frowned.

"I'm not some bad guy."

At that moment, Manager Yoon Seok-hwan's voice came faintly.

"I went to the hospital the next day, Woo-ju."

"...I'm sorry."

I heard low chuckles.

'You really went all out that time,' they said.

Recalling the incident caused by my unconscious imitation ability, I realized something.

After gaining the imitation ability, my sense of balance and perception seemed to have improved overall.

Even though I couldn't see with the blindfold, I didn't lose my balance and could walk steadily.

"Why can you walk so well? Did you put the blindfold on properly, Jung-hyun?"

A large hand felt around my eyes.

"It seems to be on properly."

"Really? You're walking so normally..."

"Want to check?"

"No. Last time, I put my hand on your shoulder, and the manager got mad."

"Ri-hyuk, the manager looks really sad right now."

Even though I couldn't see, I could imagine his expression and laughed.

We headed to the lobby with the blindfold on.

There was a click, and someone seemed to press the elevator button.

"How's it going, Woo-ju? Can you walk with your eyes closed?"

"More or less."

"How much? Can you walk without us holding your hand?"

I smiled and said, "I can find my way better than Biju."

"Bro."

Biju's sad call made everyone laugh.

On the first day of our music show, Biju got lost in the broadcasting station, and it became a famous story in the company.

When the elevator arrived and we moved again, I asked the question I had been wondering about.

"If we're going back to the second floor, why did we take the elevator?"

"..."

A moment of silence.

"See? I knew you'd figure it out," Ri-hyuk said, and everyone murmured.

The youngest member tried to smooth things over.

"This isn't the second floor, bro. Right, bros?"

"That's right. This is the third floor."

"Yeah, it doesn't have to be the second floor."

I chuckled at the ridiculousness.

I took off the blindfold when we walked down the second-floor corridor, passed the recording studio we had been in earlier, and entered another room.

This seemed to be a place I hadn't been to before.

On the second floor, I had only been to two rooms: the main recording studio where I had lessons with Manager Jo Gyu-hwan and the studio of Scarlet member Daisy, where I had helped move some stuff in early January.

But this room was different from those two.

I finally took off the blindfold.

"Ta-da! We're here!"

As my eyes adjusted to the bright light, a familiar yet unfamiliar scene came into view.

A small room with a recording booth.

It was about the size of our living room.

There was a sofa, and a desk with various audio equipment and speakers, and a laptop was set up.

"...What is this?"

Manager Jo explained to my puzzled expression.

"Considering the big hit we had with 'Something,' the company had a lot of discussions about what to give you as a reward. We thought it was too casual to just treat you to a meal, and giving you money didn't seem right either."

"So, this is...?"

"Right. It's your personal studio."

I stood there, mouth agape.

I looked around the room again. The soundproofing equipment and various facilities seemed new and unfamiliar.

...This is my studio?

Seeing my disbelieving look, Manager Jo asked, "Why don't you believe it?"

"It's too big to be a surprise gift. Is this some kind of prank, and is there another gift?"

Biju reassured me, "We didn't believe it at first either, but it's real, bro."

"Really?"

"Really. I'll stake Ri-hyuk on it."

"Why me?"

Ri-hyuk, who had been grumbling, also said to me, "Just believe it. This is really your studio."

"But I haven't done anything yet..."

Manager Jo said, "You don't need to feel pressured. We're not giving it to you for free; we're investing in your potential. The CEO and other executives all agreed on this decision."

That's what it was.

Feeling a bit dazed, I examined the equipment in the studio one by one.

There was a synthesizer I had drooled over online, and speakers from a brand known for their sound quality.

The soundproof glass of the recording booth looked as sturdy as a bomb shelter.

I took it all in, muttering, "This can't be a dream, right?"

I asked Manager Yoon Seok-hwan, "Bro, say something to wake me up from this dream."

"You haven't rejected the military variety show yet."

"It's not a dream."

I looked around the studio, hearing everyone's laughter.

It was a small room, or rather, it looked small.

But to me, it seemed wider and more beautiful than any other room, like a flower garden.

My heart began to swell.

"Looks like this is really my studio."

"More accurately, it's a studio for all of you. How do you like it?"

I nodded without a word.

Manager Min-gi, Seok-hwan, and the members all had smiles on their faces as they captured the moment on camera.

"How do you feel, bro?"

I just smiled in response to Biju's question.

Because it was a feeling that couldn't be described in words.

* * *

Some might say, "What's the big deal about getting a small room as a gift?" But to us, it had a significant meaning.

It was a symbol of recognition.

Proof that we were recognized by the company.

It meant that we had moved from being just trainees who practiced in the basement to being recognized as artists.

In other words, it meant that we were now worth investing in.

That's why everyone was so moved.

"Let's dig in!"

We sat around the pizza the manager had bought and chatted warmly.

"Having a studio... I still can't believe it."

Biju said, and the youngest member, with tomato sauce all over his mouth, nodded.

"Right. Now we have our own space. Honestly, I wasn't jealous when the Scarlet girls debuted first, but I was really envious when they got their own studio."

"Spit it out, Wang Ji-ho. You weren't jealous when Scarlet debuted?"

"Right. We talked about it all day."

Ri-hyuk's rebuke made Jung-hyun nod.

Ji-ho looked to Biju for help, but our main dancer just smiled and wiped the pizza crumbs from the youngest member's mouth.

"Well, anyway, that's the point. The important thing is that we now have our own studio."

"Right, it feels good."

"Right. It feels good to be recognized."

"Well, it's not bad."

As the younger members one by one agreed, I remembered something I had forgotten about the keyword 'work'.

"By the way, this reminds me. About the new album."

I relayed the conversation I had with Manager Jo Gyu-hwan.

The priority is to make good music rather than increase fans, and my song will be included in the debut album.

"So, I need your help."

I said.

"I think it'll be difficult for me to compose alone. Just like how Senior Jang So-won helped us with 'Something,' I want to work on a song with you guys. What do you think?"

"Sure, bro."

Jung-hyun extended his fist.

"I'll take full responsibility for the rap part."

I laughed in response, and the other members nodded, saying they would help.

"Especially Ri-hyuk and Jung-hyun, I'll need a lot of help from you two."

"Huh? Why my name?"

Ri-hyuk, who had been eating pizza, looked surprised.

"You and Jung-hyun can arrange music."

"Jung-hyun is good at it. I'm only at a basic level."

"You two were in charge of the year-end evaluation arrangement before I joined."

Moreover, I clearly remember what he said when