Iâm still heartbroken about the EN server shutting down, I was this close to my birthday wishes from the boys and his birthday event, like why now đAnyway⌠Kiro, youâve always been my little source of sunshine and inspiration. Happy 30th (even if the game is still committed to your 22 era đ).Happy birthday, my boy đĽł
FINALLY AFTER 6 YEAR'S GOT MY BOY HOME â¨â¨â¨â¨.....This was one of spiciest date of all time.... can't wait what PG is cooking in the CN server this year..đĽľđĽľđĽľ
âThe notes slipped out of his control; they became simpler, yet also became unfamiliar.â
Note: This is my Second attempt translating here. I tried my best to keep it accurate, but I'm still learning, hope you enjoy the translation. Corrections and feedbacks are always welcome.
Chapter 1:
âAll departments, take your positions. Kiro has already reached the backstage passage. Keep an eye on the fans gathered near the passage.â
âOnce he enters the backstage prep room, schedule him to go on stage within twenty minutes.â âAhhh, itâs Kiro!!! Hurry, go ask for his autograph!â
Kiro genuinely felt that the camera flashes were far too harsh.
The continuous click-click of shutters sounded in his ears, and he had no choice but to remove his cap, revealing the perfectly practiced smile he had prepared long beforehand.
âThank you to all my little Sodas for your support. I promise Iâll bring you the best performance~â Kiro waved toward the crowd, and it was obvious that the fansâwho had been waiting for so longâhad no intention of letting this âonce-in-a-lifetimeâ chance slip by.
They forcefully lifted a huge box over their heads and broke through the human barrier formed by security.
âWe truly appreciate everyoneâs support, but Kiro needs to get ready now. Please hand the gifts to our staffâtheyâll take good care of them.â
Savin braced himself against the crowd and, with great difficulty, managed to usher Kiro into the backstage preparation room.
âAlright, go rest backstage for a bit. Iâll come get you before itâs time for you to go on.â Kiro answered softly, listening to the muted thud of the door closing behind him.
It had been several days since the city awakened from its long slumber. Everything in the city looked as if it had returned to âperfect normalcy,â yet she, for some reason, still hadnât appeared.
With practiced motions, he tapped on the screen, and a hidden window instantly popped up on the minimalist interface.
ââ Any leads on the person I asked you to look into?
ââ No updates yet. Weâre expanding the search range.
The reply came from the other side of the screen without a momentâs hesitation.
Recently, the BS internal team detected some unusual activity, but the evidence is still unclear.
ââLet me know once you gather anything useful.
âUnderstood.
The people at B.S. never gave anyone peace of mind. âKiro, itâs your turn.â
Before Savin could even knock, Kiro pushed the door open and stepped out. The passage leading to the stage was long; as he walked, he let the makeup artist do quick touch-ups while listening to Savin go over the schedule.
âAfter we finish todayâs schedule, there are a few business events lined up for the next couple of days. In between, weâll start arranging things for your next album.â
Kiro was long used to these bits of conversation squeezed into every spare moment. âOf course, if youâre feeling tired, we can postpone the album discussions.â
âNo need. Go ahead and contact the band now.â
The smile he gave when he turned his headâno one could possibly resist it. âSavin, I donât want the fans to wait too long. Weâll have to move a little faster.â
Kiro stepped onto the stage, and what greeted him was a tidal wave of cheers. After the first song ended, the host appeared right on cue in the center of the venue.
âToday~ since we have such a rare opportunity, letâs have Kiro create a song on the spot for everyone! What do you all think?â
The host shot Kiro a knowing look, then skillfully pulled out a sheet of music that had clearly been prepared in advance. A few fragmentary sections were jotted on itâjust in case.
Kiro accepted the sheet, but he immediately flipped it over and began writing on the completely blank back side.
"Actually, before I even came on stage, I had already thought of a melody. Itâs inspired by all of you who have supported me all this time.â
Light strokes of ink left lively musical symbols on the paper. His soft humming spread through the microphone, as if casting a spell over the audienceâquieting everyone at once.
In the vast venue, for a moment, only Kiroâs voice remained.
The catchy scale climbed higher and higher, and the songâs climax was drawing near. Countless lines of lyrics floated through his mind, filling in the spaces between each note.
A barely noticeable, grating noise suddenly came through the microphone.
His singing stopped abruptly, and everyone lifted their heads, their blazing gazes all falling on the stage.
The sheet music had tornâa tiny, tiny hole punctured by the tip of his pen.
âWow, thank you, Kiro, for such a wonderful performance. Youâd never guess it was improvised.â
âWell then, next, letâs welcome our following guestââ
Some peopleâs attention shifted to the other side of the stage, giving Kiro just enough time to step away.
He didnât even know when he walked offâhe only found himself staring blankly at the
half-written sheet in his hand. The tiny hole piercing through the paper felt as if it had opened up inside his chest as well.
It wasnât a âcoincidence.â It was because he hadnât found the right word.
He clearly knew there should have been a perfectly fitting word thereâ a word he had sung, spoken, and written countless times before.
That syllable was right on the verge of spilling from Kiroâs throat, yet in the end, it was erased by the rubber of his eraser. Something essentialâsomething criticalâhad vanished from his music.
Chapter:2
In the van, Kiro tacitly chose not to speak to Savin.
The phone in Savin hand rang nonstop, and even through his headphones, Kiro could still catch fragments of the conversation.
New album, popularity, charts, contractsâŚ
Kiro felt oddly dazedâhe hadnât heard these words come at him so densely in what felt like years.
And judging from Savinâs expression, this clearly wasnât ordinary business coordinationâit looked more like anxiety, even fear.
Kiro gently removed his headphones and called out to Savin from the back seat.
âSavin, itâs been a long time since Iâve been on a show like this. How was my performance today?â
âIt was good. The organizers were satisfied with how you handled every segment. The ratings and fan feedback were solid too.â
âAs a warm-up for your upcoming activities, it should help quite a bit.â âAnd about the song todayâŚâ
Before Kiro could finish, Savin rushed to cut him off.
âThe song was great. Even if it was your title track from years ago, you sang it exactly the same as the studio version.â
Even Savin didnât notice?
Kiro lowered his gaze, and in that moment his eyes brushed across his own screen.
A little bear and little rabbit icon hung at the edge of the interface, pressed close together as if they would never part.
If she were here⌠would she be able to see the change in me?
The thought slipped into his mind so naturally that it startled even himself.
He knew the two of them had once been very closeâbut that closeness should have been nothing more than two kindred, wounded souls holding on to each other.
He scrolled through his songs one after another, with a lingering feeling in his heart that somewhere among them, there had to be a single track that remained untouchedâunchanged.
But what followed instead was that same jarring, discordant sensation⌠again and again.
A tight, suffocating pressure gathered in his chest, drawing his brows into a deep frownâonly to be interrupted a second later by an incoming transmission.
ââ Iâve listed the suspicious names above. Continuing the investigation will take time.
ââ Just leave the list to me. You keep a close watch on those people.
After he sent the message, there was a brief one-second pause on the screen.
ââ Yes, BOSS.
Kiro received the file from the backend almost immediately. His fingers moved quickly over the keyboard, and before long, he had generated an analysis program on the system.
As a little bear appeared on the screenâreading through the fileâKiro locked his phone. The network was his eyes. No one could escape them.
He took off his headphones, and just then, the car radio started playing the next trackâone of his former title songs.
The bright melody and heartfelt vocals could move anyone; everyone who heard it would feel happinessâ
But not now.
This song⌠was no longer the one it used to be either.
When Kiro lifted his head, both the driver and Savin were listening with such delight. All the disharmony he felt seemed like nothing more than his own oversensitivityâjust a speck of dust fallen onto a star, too small for anyone else to notice.
A wrenching sting spread from his chest. He curled his fingers into a tight fist, yet the smile on his face stayed exactly the same.
âSavin, remember that 24-hour recording studio we rented a while ago?â âYeah, you barely went there a few times. Why bring it up all of a sudden?â
Kiro flashed a peace sign at the rearview mirror, a smile beneath his golden bangs so irresistible no one could turn it down.
âFor the new albumâ
I want to start working on it tonight.â
Chapter: 3
Recording window glass:
On the other side of the glass, Savin was probably discussing the follow-up plans with the partners.
While in the car, he had lost count of how many calls heâd taken. Although he spoke in a low voice, the anxiety was written all over his faceâeveryone could see it.
It was understood without wordsâthey just didnât want to put too much pressure on him. It would be great if the album could be finished sooner.
But thatâs clearly just the managerâs jobâso why do I feel so uneasy about it? Microphone:
The microphone had clearly been adjusted by someone else. Judging from the schedule, it was probably for a child star.
Just a moment ago in the car, Savin had even shown me the other personâs performance profile.
Theyâre very inexperienced, but full of potentialâan amateur debutant who has already gathered quite a following.
No wonder Savin and the others were so anxiousâthe competition in the market is indeed intense.
Lamp:
When the recording studio is empty, I prefer to turn off the lights and sit here alone.
Itâs quiet and relaxing. I can sing anything I want without anyone knowingâitâs a pretty good way to unwind.
Hmm⌠though lately this light seems to be broken; it keeps flickering. Iâll have to get someone to fix it when I get the chance.
Music Stand:
I donât know how long this stand has been in use. The screws underneath are loose, and if you put a few more sheets of music on it, it tilts.
I remember a fan gave me a stand today. Otherwise, Iâll just have Savin and the others bring one over to useâitâs a waste to leave it sitting in the storage anyway.
Also, check all the gifts the little Sodas gave earlier. If they can still be used, donât just leave them there.
They gather dust and take up space.
Maybe itâs better to give them to someone elseâafter all, âcharityâ was pretty popular not long ago.
Chair:
I spin.
Every time I sit in this chair, I canât help but do a little spinâby the time I come in, all my unhappiness from before is forgotten.
That said, I wouldnât recommend kids try this.
Stacked Sheet Music on the Left:
With so many new songs to write, when will I ever finish? I used to think I could write new songs anytimeâŚ
âŚBut now, it feels like Iâve completely lost my inspiration.
The notes in my head have been cut off by something, and even familiar songs refuse to come out.
Itâs like thereâs a word⌠yes, the feeling of the word, the feeling of the lyrics is wrong. Every time I have an instinct of what to write, but I just canât get it down.
Something essential is missing from my music. I have to find it again.
Chapter 4:
âSavin, Kiro, thanks so much for inviting our band to provide accompaniment for the new album.â
âIf it feels like weâre a good fit, let us know as soon as possibleâweâre all ready to start working.â
As the band leader, the man skillfully pulled a thick envelope from his coat and, hidden by his sleeve, handed it over to Savin.
âNo need for that, Old Chen. You know we never do this kind of thing.â
âAs for the collaboration, Kiro and I will consider it carefully. Next time, weâll take you out for a meal.â
Savin smiled and patted the man on the shoulder, then pushed the envelope back along the same path with his fingers together.
âSorry, thereâs been a lot of this kind of thing lately. Iâve gotten used to it.â
The man gave an awkward smile, stuffed the thick envelope back into his pocket, and then turned his attention to Kiro, who was standing nearby.
âBig star, weâll be waiting for your word then.â
âOf course. Iâm looking forward to working with you too.â
Kiro smiled, his expression as bright as the sun, naturally drawing people in. He only relaxed once he saw the other person close the car door.
âDealing with them is really exhausting.â
âCanât help it. Heâs a veteran in the industry with a wide networkâsome pleasantries are inevitable.â
âGood thing you were here, Savin. Otherwise, when he handed over those things just now, I probably wouldnât have been able to hold back.â
âTheyâre already the third band weâve scheduled this week. Still not good enough?â
âCanât help it. The tunes they play sound old and greasyâso polished itâs unbearable. We just canât collaborate with them.â
âIf worst comes to worst, I can handle all the arrangements myself.â âThat would be a huge waste of time.â
For some reason, Savin seemed increasingly focused on commercial success latelyâa side of him very different from the impression Kiro had in his mind.
Maybe he had just been too lax himself.
Kiro looked up and met Savinâs eyes, and the two of them shared a knowing smile.
Savin picked up his phone, forwarded a few schedules, and then waved the screen at Kiro.
âAll right, Savin. After a little while, Iâll be able to write the lead track for this album~â âThen Iâll trouble you for just a bit moreâlet me spend a few days alone in the studio.â
He clasped his hands together and bowed slightly to Savin, finally earning a resigned sigh in response. Savin then handed over his phone.
On the screen, a golden, fluffy little creature lay sprawled on the floor, looking somewhat listless.
âOkay, but you havenât been home for several days. The Apple box keeps following me aroundâbefore you disappear into seclusion, I want you two to meet.â
Kiro rubbed the button on the screen, and the camera swiveled halfway around. Perhaps because it was sound asleep, the Apple box on the screen didnât turn its head. Soon, his fingers lifted from the âcallâ button, and he handed the phone back to Savin.
âSavin, Iâll leave the Apple box in your care for a few more days. Until I finish writing the lead track for the album, Iâm going to stay in the studio.â
âIâm afraid if I miss him too much, Iâll end up distracted myself.â
For some unknown reason, he added the sentence almost subconsciously, but it felt like a hole had been punched in his heart that he couldnât quite close.
And so, after Savin left, Kiro finally had the long-awaited time to be alone.
When he returned to the studio, Kiro lay down in the center of the sofa, holding his laptop.
A mellow sound drifted from his headphones, a familiar melody lingering around himâbut it felt like a bramble of thorns, pinning him in place. Even the slightest step forward would draw blood.
He felt agitation, confusion, and anger. In countless notes, he saw her silhouette.
He knew very well that many of these songs could only be written when she was by his side. But now, he didnât even have the motivation to go find her.
On his phone screen still sat a photo of the two of themâtaken when they were curled up on the sofa, sharing the last chip. Both of them were smiling so sweetly, as if they had thrown the entire world behind them.
âLa la~ la la laââââ
A faint spark of inspiration flickered through his memory. Kiro seemed to grasp onto it, unconsciously beginning to hum. There was no goal, only the melody filling his heart, keeping time with the beat of his chest.
âDing dingâââYou have a new email.â
The abrupt notification sound cut through the otherwise gentle melody.
He raised his head impatiently, but the message on the screen made him frown.
âPawns.
A strange word appeared in the chat window. Seeing it, Kiro couldnât help but knit his brows. In his memory, he didnât recall ever seeing this person before. There were only two possibilities now:
One, this person had been lurking inside BS for a long time, and he simply hadnât noticed them until now.
Two, this person had only recently gained some value worth paying attention to.
âPawnsâŚâ
Kiro typed the string of characters into the search bar, but all that appeared was a blank page.
âLooks like Iâll have to find this person before they do.â
He put on his headphones, trying to chase the feeling from just a moment ago, but no matter what he did, he couldnât find it.
It wasnât until Kiro looked up that he saw his reflection in the studio mirrorâ Silver, sharp and piercing, like an unbearable noise.
Chapter 5:
Her:
After she disappeared, what kind of impact did it have on you?
Kiro: Sheâs the most, most important boss.
But why⌠now Iâm actually a little afraid to see her.
Even though we shared so many truly happy memories, she feels so far away nowâlike a star thatâs out of reach.
I donât know what expression to wear the next time we meetâshould I cry for her, or smile at her?
Should I rush over and hug her? Or pretend nothing has changed and call her âMiss Chipâ? Can I even do it?
2. Kiro
Kiro⌠who exactly are you?
Kiro: Heâs Helios, heâs KEY, heâs the BOSS of BS, and heâs also the widely recognized star under the spotlight.
I donât think I need to avoid any of these identitiesâtheyâre just roles I play. Standing on different stages requires different masks.
But Kiro has always been just one person, from beginning to end.
3. BS - Black Swan
Thereâs currently a storm brewing within BSâhow should I face the situation at hand?
Kiro: Right now, it can be summed up in one sentence: respond to change with constancy.
There have always been many divisions within BS, and I never intended for everyone to achieve so-called unity.
What I want is simpleâmake it a blade that obeys my command. If someone volunteers to become that ârestless element,â
as the BOSS, I feel itâs my responsibility to make the extra voices disappear completely.
4.Bottleneck:
When you hit a bottleneck, how do you handle it? How do you resolve the current ânegativeâ state?
Kiro: Itâs okay, itâs not the first time this has happenedâI should be used to it by now. But this fear feels completely different from before.
I have to keep telling myself: donât be afraid, donât rush.
Yet deep down, I probably know that this feeling will linger over me. But⌠so what?
Write first, sing first. Keep writing, keep singing. Otherwise, thatâs the real bottleneckâand death.
5. Songwriting & Composition:
How would you evaluate the song youâre about to create?
Kiro: Hollow melodies, fake emotions, and lyrics that donât fit at allâI really donât know why Iâm writing them.
âŚThis can hardly be called songwriting.
But even something like this, I canât manage to write right now. Iâm just wasting time here, and I have this persistent feeling.
