Two
I groan loudly into my pillow, lying on my stomach. It’s been 2 weeks, and I’m still thinking about that interaction. Since then, we’ve warmed up to each other more. At first, I hovered around the group and occasionally spoke. After the one-week mark, I got comfortable enough to stand closer to them and actually join their conversations. It seems like they forgot about my odd introduction, but it still plagues my mind despite that. I might end it all before I ever get to see my favorite.
I flip myself over and lay on my back in a starfish position. Speaking of my favorite, I still need to find a way to sneak into their class. Only, I’m pretty sure the 50th class is in the southern section of Anakt Garden, and I have no idea how to get there. I know everything there is to know about this section because I sneak off sometimes to get more familiar with my surroundings, and because of that, I think I know how to get to the southern section, I just refrain from going because I don’t know what’s on the other side of the door.
I sigh and turn on to lay on my side. I squeeze my eyes shut tightly and try to sleep for the hundredth time.
It’s no good.
I try to sleep so I have energy for practice in the morning, but I never manage to stay asleep long enough. Because of it, I haven’t been able to improve much. If I get taken out before I can make any progress to save everyone, what’s the point? The only thing I don’t need any work on is singing. Even though I never got to show it off, I always sang to myself in my past life. And not to brag, but I have the voice of an angel even in this life. The only downside is I am horrible and pretty much anything else. My arms freeze up while playing any instrument, I’m not creative enough to write song lyrics, and my limbs are impossibly stiff when I dance. It might be because I don’t sleep enough, but I don’t see myself doing any better with a good night’s rest either. I’ll just have to practice extra hard, I guess. I can’t have myself killed before I can save everyone.
Now that I think about it, how come I didn’t get some super overpowered powers like in the novels? It would be so useful if I had a debut or die-style system.
Suddenly, a blue holographic screen appears in front of me. Instead of being happy, I deadpan. Seriously? All I had to do was think about a system, and it would come? I’m starting to think I’m some kind of prophet.
Ren [REDACTED]
Age: 7
(Originally 15. The mental state has been slightly adjusted to better align with the current age.)
Birthday: October 8th
Height: 140cm (4’7”)
Weight: 77 lb (35 kg)
Stats
Vocal: A+
Visuals: C-
Dance: C
Stamina: C
Mental Strength: B+
Star Potential: B
Points: 5
Main Mission:
Save the cast of Alien Stage.
How come my last name is redacted? It should be… I don’t remember. That’s okay I guess. I didn’t really use it aside from when I wrote my name on school papers. My birthday is the same and also, It looks like I’m a bit overweight in this world too. I guess it’s good I guess its good I gave Hyunwoo half of my lunch today.
Just as I thought, My voice is the best thing I have. Thank god the system gave me starting points, or I would’ve been doomed. I put three points into visuals, one point into stamina, and one point into dance immediately. I feel like I should’ve put more thought into it, but I don’t have the brain juice to think when it’s bedtime. I might regret it in the morning but beauty is pain. I looked at my stats again to look at my S tier, fully maxed-out visuals, but it was only B. The points only increased it a little… Damn, I feel like a fool. Forget this, I have better things to do.
I roll off of the bed and fall off the bed onto my feet. I walk on my toes to the door and press my ear to the door to listen for any patrolling aliens. Apparently, it's common for human pets to roam around at night and cause trouble. I knew that after I walked out of my room, like I always do, to use the bathroom, and got lifted by a big, bulky alien and carried back into my room. That alien stood right outside my door for the rest of the night and banged on the door in warning whenever I made noise.
I slowly slid my door open and closed it behind me gently to avoid making that ‘clack’ noise doors here make when they close. Seriously, sometimes I forget this is a garden to raise me to become the best entertainment and not just a really music-focused boarding school for children. I whip my head left and right, then walk left. After a lot of turns that are just muscle memory now, I stand in front of a door with Lukas’s name ingrained in it. Luka sleeps in a special room near the staff room so they can monitor his condition and come quickly in case anything happens. That’s why his room is so far from everyone elses.
I push it open, and inside, it’s dead quiet. There’s a bed in the middle of the room with various medical equipment surrounding it. In the bed, there’s a lump covered completely with a blanket. I walk over to the bed silently, carefully avoiding stepping on all the wires hanging everywhere. I nudge the lump on the bed and pull the blanket low enough that I can see Lukas’s face. His eyes are closed, and his long eyelashes touch his chubby cheeks. I poke one cheek with my finger, and when he doesn’t react, I pull his eyelids up with my thumb. Lukas one open eye locks on me, and I place my finger over my lips in a shushing motion.
I get on my knees and grip the bedsheets that touch the floor. Luka shuffles and peeks his head over the edge to watch me. I pull the bed sheet up quickly and watch Hyuna and Hyunwoo’s faces go from horrified and tense, with Hyuna’s hand covering both their mouths, to wide-eyed with a glint of recognition and relief.
“Ren!” Hyuna whisper-yells, a smile on her face. Beside her, Hyunwoo sighs, and his body visibly relaxes.
“Hey Hyuna, Hyunwoo. Come out, it’s probably dusty.” I smile back, offering my hand. Hyuna accepts it and I pull her out easily while Hyunwoo struggles to get out for a second.
“It’s not. The staff deep cleans my room every day.” Luka chimes in.
“I wish the staff deep cleaned my room, I’m tired of cleaning it myself…” I cry jealously.
“You’re just lazy, Ren,” Hyunwoo adds while he pats his white shirt clean.
“Hyunwoo, is that an insult? I thought we had something after I shared my lunch with you…!” I hold my heart like it’s in pain and turn my head dramatically while wiping fake tears.
“You-! I didn’t ask for that! You just gave it to me and I ate it!” Hyunwoo responds, clearly trying to keep his voice quiet.
“Still counts as sharing!” I retort, pointing my finger at his chest accusingly.
”If Hyunwoo weren’t my brother, I would think they’re the siblings because of how they argue.” Hyuna commented, probably talking to Luka who just hummed in response. If it were anyone else, I would curse them and their future children, but I love Hyuna and Luka too much for that.
“Hyuna,” I whine, dragging out the last letter of her name annoyingly. “Don’t compare me to him, That’s like an insult!” I drop to my knees and lean my head on her knees, like a sad little pet would. I guess I am a sad little pet though… I forgot this isn’t my original world again.
“Hey, what does that mean!” Hyunwoo snarls, offended. “And get off of my sister!” He grabs onto the back of my dress and tries to pull me off of Hyuna. He hits me with a fist on my back and I groan. I can tell that’s going to leave a bruise… I tighten my arms around Hyuna's legs while Hyuna and Luka watch us bicker, slightly amused. I don’t think they noticed Hyunwoo’s punch. Now that I look, Luka's also cuddling up to Hyuna. How come Hyunwoo doesn’t pull him off instead? I glance back at him and conclude that I teased him a bit too much this time. His face is slightly red from anger which would be fine otherwise, but we can’t risk him getting too mad and alerting the staff were in here. I get a feeling that if they catch me out of my room at night one more time, I’ll also get a special room like Luka but with a lock on it. I swear, You sneak off and accidentally cause your entire dorm to all sneak out of their rooms at night a couple of times and these aliens designate you someone that has to be watched at night... Huh, Maybe I'm the reason there are patrol aliens now.
“Calm down, Hyunwoo.” I unlatch one arm from Hyuna's leg and try to pry his fingers off my clothes. Obviously I fail, because what 7-year-old is overpowering a 9-year-old? “If you want to cuddle up with someone too, Luka is right there,” I say, disguising it as another tease directed at Hyunwoo. Really, I just want to hug Hyuna undisturbed.
“Ew, I’m not hugging Luka!” Hyunwoo sticks out his tongue in a fake gag so he can really show how disgusted he is by the idea. Luka just furrows his brows and moves to lean into Hyuna even more. Now is when Hyunwoo notices Luka doing the same as me, and the most astonished look covers his face. Hyuna just laughs goodheartedly.
“Stop stealing my sister from me!” Hyunwoo stomps on the ground like kids do. Maybe I should stop him, what if he makes too much noise?
“Let’s make a deal,” I start, getting up from my spot on the floor. “Let’s play rock, paper, scissors and whoever wins gets Hyuna!” I point at Hyuna, who is having a different conversation with Luka. “The loser gets Luka!” He isn’t listening to us but I can imagine him creasing his eyebrows, offended.
“Rock, paper, scissors?” Hyunwoo raises an eyebrow. “Are you making up games now? I knew you were crazy.” Right, different world. Earth exploded and its traditions are either distorted or gone completely. I forgot.
I teach him the ropes of the game vaguely because I don’t feel like writing—I mean teaching someone who never played rock, paper, scissors how to play. Besides, the less he knows, the higher the chance I get of winning and getting Hyuna.
“Rock, paper, scissors, shoot!” We both say, Hyunwoo a little less confidently. I choose scissors and he chooses paper. I pump both my arms up in victory and fling myself onto Hyuna, who was laughing at something Luka said. I wrap my arms around her neck and hug her closely, paying no attention to the fuming Hyunwoo who trudges his way to Luka’s side, crossing his arms while he sits behind Luka and lets his legs stretch on Luka’s sides.
Hyuna chuckled and I shivered when her breath hit my neck. She ran her fingers through my hair and I relaxed. You can really tell that Hyuna’s an older sister, even if she’s barely older. I laid my head on her shoulder, hiding my face in her shoulder, and closed my eyes. The sound of Hyunwoo grumbling, Luka occasionally humming, and Hyuna laughing extremely close to my ear lulls me to sleep for the first time in forever.
“No, I think vocal classes are the easiest. Ren would agree with me, right Ren?” Hyuna tilts her head down to see Ren’s face. Her slumped form doesn’t reply. “Ren?”
“That lunatic… Did she really just fall asleep?” Hyunwoo kisses his teeth and looks over Luka’s shoulder, resting his chin on his shoulder.
“Let her sleep, she looks like she hasn’t slept since she was born,” Luka says, looking at Hyunwoo from the side of his eye.
“You got a point, those eyebags take up half her face.” Hyunwoo snickers and his own joke and Hyuna rolls her eyes with a smile on her lips.
Hyuna pulls Ren back, holding up her head so it doesn’t end up flopping around her shoulders. This way, Hyuna gets a good look at her for the first time.
“I never really noticed, but Ren’s pretty cute, isn’t she?” Hyuna says softly, so as not to wake up Ren. She uses the hand holding her head up to pull at her cheek. Ren’s face scrunches up, and Hyuna coos.
“Yeah, right. She looks like my left foot.” Hyunwoo cuts in, clearly not sensing the gentle tension just now. Hyuna elbows him in the stomach and Hyunwoo shuts up. Luka decides to focus on the annoyed expression on Hyunwoos face and not the slight blush he spotted on his first love’s face when she spoke about the girl in her arms.