Chapter 55: ATE And The Studio Chaos.
The lobby of the studio smelled faintly of coffee and polished wood. The hum of instruments and distant chatter floated from deeper inside.
Ren sat in the waiting room, elbows on his knees, staring at the floor.
'Why the hell did I react like that?'
His reflection wavered faintly in the glass table before him.
'I'm an adult. Well 'was' but that's not the point.' He eyed the blue butterfly that was floating around. 'I am not supposed to care what people think. So why... why did that hit a nerve?'
The question circled like a vulture.
'Maybe it wasn't 'me' that reacted. Maybe it was the other one. The one who belonged to this body before I came.' Ren rubbed his temples. 'Great. Now I'm talking to myself inside someone else's head. Is this my actual thought or what?'
The door opened with a soft chime.
A woman stepped in crimson hair, sharp posture, her expression the practiced calm of someone used to attention.
Ren's breath caught for a second. And in that instant, Akeshi's image flickered before him like a ghost overlapping the living.
He exhaled sharply and muttered, "Would've been nice if the one running this place was him instead."
Ji-eun blinked. "Who?"
Ren leaned back, eyes still fixed on the woman as she passed by. "Akeshi Tarazune."
Ji – eun's voice lifted a little, curiosity brightening her tone. "You know him?"
"I've met him. Talked. That's about it."
Junhyeok raised an eyebrow. "And you're saying he's better than the guy we're here for?"
Ren nodded slightly. "Yeah. I'll say this twice, just so it sticks – yes, he's that good."
Ji-eun almost smiled, her eyes lighting up like she'd been waiting to hear that. "I knew it..."
Ren turned toward her, brow raised. "What, are you his fan or something?"
Ji-eun didn't hesitate. "Of course I am. Everyone who knows what effort looks like is."
Ren snorted lightly. "Effort? The guy doesn't need effort. He breathes results."
Ji-eun shook her head. "You don't get it. He's the proof that you don't need a golden spoon to own gold. He's not born into power he earned it. People like him, they start from nowhere, with nothing but themselves, and somehow still end up standing higher than everyone else."
Ren hummed quietly. "So, a fairytale."
"It's not a fairytale," she said, voice firmer now. "It's proof. That talent's nothing without the will to climb. Most people – they have everything, but without direction, they just float. Tarazune – san doesn't. He's... he's gravity."
Ren gave her a sidelong glance. "That sounds dangerously close to worship."
Junhyeok smirked. "Yeah, you're practically glowing, Ji – eun."
Luther, silent until now, finally spoke. "I've seen people like him before. The ones who work twice as hard and still look calm while doing it. They scare people because they make excuses look small."
Ren's voice came quieter this time. "Or because they remind people of what they could've been."
Ji-eun frowned at him. "You say that like you envy him."
"I don't envy people who bleed the same color I do," Ren said, leaning back. "But I do respect the ones who make it worth something."
"That's... surprisingly mature of you," Junhyeok teased.
Ren smirked faintly. "You say that like I'm some toddler throwing tantrums."
"Sometimes, you are," Ji-eun said softly. "Like earlier."
Ren glanced at her, his tone low. "You gonna keep score?"
"Maybe. Depends on how many more tantrums you throw."
Luther coughed, cutting through the tension. "Alright, children. Play nice. We're guests here."
Ren sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Tell that to my brain. It's not exactly in guest mode right now."
Ji-eun tilted her head, studying him. "Still thinking about earlier?"
Ren didn't answer immediately. His gaze drifted to the floor again. "...You ever feel like you're sharing your head with someone else's ghost?"
'Yes." Luther thought.
'Definitely.' Junhyeok looked away.
Ji-eun blinked. "That's... oddly specific."
Ren gave a half – smile. "Yeah. Just a thought."
Before Ji-eun could reply, a voice called from down the hall a deep, calm baritone that carried authority without effort.
"Guests from Yamamichi?"
They all turned.
A tall man stood there, elegant and composed, his presence filling the hallway. His eyes met Ren's assessing, sharp, like a conductor scanning a score before the music begins.
Ren stood slowly, straightening his jacket.
'Showtime,' he thought.
.
.
.
.
The elevator doors opened with a soft ding, revealing a corridor lined with soundproofed walls and sleek nameplates. Ren's eyes moved lazily over them, until they stopped at the golden plaque engraved with one word: ATE.
Ren exhaled, unimpressed. "Why does a single person have an entire flat for themselves?"
The tall man accompanying them – broad – shouldered, polite smile plastered on his face – replied without missing a beat. "Because that single person happens to produce extraordinary results every single time."
Ren tilted his head, skeptical. "So that's the requirement now? Produce a miracle, get a penthouse?"
Ji-eun elbowed him lightly, whispering, "Show some respect, this is ATE. He's basically the reason half the industry's still breathing."
Ren smirked. "And the other half choking on admiration, apparently."
The tall man – Eiden, as his ID tag read – let out a tired chuckle. "You're not wrong." He gestured ahead. "Anyway, please keep your voice down, the maestro doesn't like – "
A thunderous laugh interrupted him, followed by the unmistakable sound of something crashing.
" – noise," Eiden finished under his breath.
Ren raised an eyebrow. "Doesn't like noise, huh?"
Eiden sighed. "You'll see."
As they approached the door, it swung open slightly. Shouts, giggles, and the pitter – patter of small feet poured out. Ji-eun blinked in disbelief.
"Are... those children?"
Inside, the room was a bizarre fusion of chaos and genius – soundboards, monitors, and cables scattered across the floor, but in the middle of it all, four children were running wild.
A boy darted past Ren's leg, laughing. "Jason! Don't throw that!" a calmer girl shouted after him. "Catch me first!" Jason yelled, waving a small mixing console like a toy.
In the corner, a quiet girl with neat hair sat cross-legged, absorbed in drawing. The last one, with twin braids and a bright red dress, was laughing so hard she snorted.
Ren blinked. "...So this is the composer's legendary studio."
Eiden hurried in, exasperated. "Kids! Kids – please! Stop running before you – "
*Crash!*
A monitor nearly tipped, but the calm girl grabbed it just in time.
The mature-looking one, sitting in a chair with arms folded, finally spoke. Her tone was commanding for someone her size. "Shut up or I'll tell Dada."
Instant silence.
Jason froze mid – step. "Y – you wouldn't..."
"Try me," she said flatly.
Ren's lips twitched. "Well, someone runs this place at least."
Eiden pinched the bridge of his nose. "My deepest apologies, Mr. Ren, Ms. Ji-eun. This... is not the usual environment. ATE asked me to take care of them for a few hours."
Ren gave him a look. "You mean he dumped his kids here and ran off?"
Eiden raised both hands. "He said, and I quote, 'Something idiotic happened."
Ji-eun clasped her hands together, sparkling. "Still, isn't that so him? Always eccentric, always mysterious."
Ren gave her a side glance. "Careful, you're putting two legs on two different boats."
She blinked. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"You can't worship two men at once," he said dryly. "Me and him. It's unfair."
Ji-eun laughed, half – flustered. "Who said you're even on the same boat?"
Jason piped up, tugging Ren's sleeve. "Are you Dada's friend?"
Ren looked down. "...Do I look like I have friends?"
Jason giggled. "Yeah, kinda! You look like Nana when she's mad."
Nana gasped, clutching her chest dramatically. "How dare you compare this face – "
" – to that hair," Sumi interrupted calmly, pointing at Jason's messy head.
"Hey!" Jason shouted.
Ren crouched to their level. "You guys always like this?"
The mature one crossed her arms again. "Sometimes worse. I'm Sumi, by the way. That's Jason, the loud one; Nana, the dramatic one; and Liv, the quiet one who pretends not to hear us."
Liv didn't even look up. "I hear you."
Ren smirked. "Smart kid."
Eiden smiled nervously. "They've been here since morning. ATE had an emergency meeting and left them with the staff."
Ji-eun's eyes lit up. "He has kids? Four?"
"Yes," Eiden said. "He doesn't talk much about them publicly."
Ji-eun clasped her cheeks, starry-eyed. "That's so sweet. Genius composer and devoted father."
Ren rolled his eyes. "Yeah, 'devoted'. Left them here like unpaid interns."
Eiden sighed. "You're not wrong again."
Sumi tugged Ren's sleeve politely. "You're funny. Most adults just sigh and leave."
Ren smirked faintly. "Trust me, I thought about it."
Jason laughed. "You should stay! We can play 'studio tag'!"
"No," Ren said instantly.
"Yes," Nana countered, grinning. "It's a fun game! You run and don't trip on cables!"
Ren deadpanned. "That's not a game. That's survival."
Ji-eun giggled. "You're good with kids."
Ren glanced at her. "No. They're just easier to deal with than adults pretending to be human."
Eiden chuckled under his breath. "You'd get along with ATE just fine."
Ren leaned back, eyes narrowing. "We'll see about that."
Ji-eun leaned towards Ren, and whispered. "I think they're cute."
Ren muttered, "Yeah, until they set the mixing board on fire."
Sumi looked at him, amused. "Dada said people who get annoyed by kids are just kids who forgot how to laugh."
Ren froze. "...That's oddly profound for a twelve-year-old."
"I'm nine."
"Even worse," he muttered.
Eiden cleared his throat. "Mr. ATE will be returning shortly. Please, everyone, try not to... destroy anything."
Ren exhaled slowly, leaning against the wall, watching the children settle. Ji-eun was quietly humming one of ATE's tracks under her breath face. a small, genuine smile on her
Ren's gaze softened despite himself.
He muttered quietly, "No golden spoon, huh? Guess he forged it himself."
Ji-eun heard him. "That's why he's different."
Ren didn't reply.
He just stared at the studio door waiting for the man who somehow balanced chaos, brilliance, and fatherhood like it was second nature.