Ji-eun kept her head down as she hurried through the crowded hallway, her bag clutched tightly to her chest. The laughter and chatter of her classmates washed over her, but she barely heard it. She just wanted to reach the music room—her only sanctuary.
But as she turned the corner, a group of girls blocked her path. Soo-ah, the school's star trainee, stood at the center, her smile sharp as a blade.
"Practicing for your next big flop, Ji-eun?" Soo-ah's voice was sweet, but her words stung. The other girls giggled, their eyes glinting with amusement.
Ji-eun's cheeks burned. She mumbled, "Excuse me," and tried to slip past.
Soo-ah stepped aside with a dramatic sigh. "Don't trip on your way to the music room. Wouldn't want you to embarrass yourself again."
The laughter followed Ji-eun down the hall, echoing in her ears. She hurried through the empty corridors, her footsteps quick and quiet. The old music room was her refuge—a place where the world's cruelty couldn't reach her.
She slipped inside, closed the door, and let out a shaky breath. Dust motes danced in the sunlight. The piano waited in the corner, its keys worn but familiar. Ji-eun sat down, letting her fingers hover above the keys.
She played a gentle melody, her voice trembling at first, then growing stronger as she lost herself in the music. For a few precious minutes, she forgot about Soo-ah, about the whispers, about the loneliness that clung to her like a shadow.
When the song ended, Ji-eun let her hands fall to her lap. Tears pricked her eyes, but she wiped them away quickly. She couldn't let herself fall apart—not here, not now.
She stood to leave, but something strange happened. A soft blue light shimmered in front of her, swirling and coalescing into a glowing window that hovered in the air.
[Idol System Activated]
Ji-eun stared, frozen. The window displayed a set of numbers and words:
Name: Ji-eun
Age: 16
Vocal: 1 (0/100)
Dance: 1 (0/100)
Charisma: 1 (0/100)
Stage Presence: 1 (0/100)
Below the stats, another section appeared:
Skills
Singing: 1 (0/100)
Dancing: 1 (0/100)
Public Speaking: 1 (0/100)
A line of text scrolled across the bottom:
[1 minute of practice = 1 stat point. 100 points needed to level up. Each level increases stat by 1. 1 skill use = 1 EXP. 100 EXP needed to level up. Each level increases skill by 1. No limits.]
Ji-eun's heart pounded. Was this real? She reached out, but her hand passed through the window. It hovered, waiting.
She sat back at the piano, curiosity burning away her fear. She set a timer on her phone and began to sing, pouring her heart into every note. The window's numbers ticked upward with each passing minute.
Vocal: 1 (1/100)... (2/100)... (3/100)...
She watched, mesmerized, as the numbers climbed. For the first time, Ji-eun felt a sense of control—a way to measure her effort, to see herself grow.
When she finished, she checked the window. Her Vocal stat had increased by the exact number of minutes she'd sung. Her Singing skill had gained experience with every song.
Ji-eun smiled, a small, determined smile. If this was her chance, she would take it. She would practice, and she would grow—one minute, one note, one stat at a time.