Game Market 1983
Chapter 208: D-125

"Is that so? Really!? Is this Kanna's voice?"

Huh...? Could they... be Kanna's friends?

Realizing through a stroke of luck that they might know Kanna, I asked Manager Miyazaki to bring them into the office.

"Manager, these two guests are here as you requested."

"Thank you, Mr. Miyazaki."

Led by Mr. Miyazaki, the awkwardly poised couple wandered around the office, their expressions uneasy.

"Please, have a seat over here. Mr. Miyazaki, sorry to bother you, but could you bring some refreshments?"

"Yes, of course."

Nodding at Miyazaki's response, I put on the most welcoming smile I could muster and introduced myself to them.

"I apologize for abruptly calling you here. We have other customers around, and I didn't want to create a scene."

As I tried to ease the tension, I took out a small album from my pocket. The moment I laid it on the table, the man sitting across from me nearly gasped in excitement.

"Whoa~!"

This guy... despite his calm appearance, he's surprisingly enthusiastic. Or is it just about games? Suppressing the urge to playfully tease him with the album, I had to refrain due to the woman who had been eyeing me suspiciously from the start.

"This album... Is it really rare to replace? And with other customers here, is it alright for you to just hand it over like this?"

She seemed to be sharper and more questioning than her male companion, who was captivated by the promotional album.

"Of course not. That's why I'm offering this 'covertly.'"

"Why is that...?"

Seeing her still guarded, I flashed an awkward smile, but her boyfriend sitting beside her gently nudged her side.

"You didn't catch that earlier? He's the boss here. Given his position, this is nothing much..."

In the midst of this, the man who made eye contact with me seemed to momentarily forget his train of thought, staring at me blankly before stuttering.

"Are you Director Kang Junhyuk?"

"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Kang Junhyuk from Pentagon, as you mentioned earlier."

"Whoa! You're for real! They say you occasionally visit the Pentagon shop, but it's true!"

...Was seeing me that shocking?

As I watched him startled, even to the point of almost spitting out his drink, it somehow reminded me of the old Junpei, making me almost burst out laughing.

"If it's not too much trouble, could you introduce yourselves for a moment?"

"Ah, I'm Nakamura. This is my girlfriend, Mayumi."

"Pleasure to meet you, Nakamura-san, and Mayumi-san. Actually, I didn't intentionally call you both here. I happened to overhear your conversation."

"Our conversation?"

"Didn't you mention 'Kanna' while discussing the song inside the store? I distinctly heard it..."

"Wow! Are you saying that Kanna actually sang that song?"

To Mayumi's question, I slowly nodded in confirmation.

"Yes, that's right. In our upcoming project at Pentagon, Kanna's song has been released as the 'first' reveal."

"Ah~ I knew it... See, Nakamura? I understood it right away... This dense guy..."

"Wow... I had no idea. Oh? Then, wait a moment... If that's the case, could the ending song for 'Gift from the Gods' also possibly be?"

Only now did Nakamura catch on, and once again, I simply nodded in response.

"Ugh... That gave me goosebumps. Could it really be Kanna singing that ending song... But come to think of it, it's dangerous. Keeping it a secret even from us, her friends. Disappointing."

"There might be a reason she couldn't tell us."

Understanding Mayumi's attempt to empathize with Kanna, I nodded slowly in agreement.

"That's true. We're maintaining strict confidentiality about her in this project within our team leads, excluding direct involvement. It's also at her request."

"Ah... Then, could this lead to Kanna's debut if her song succeeds?"

"It's a bit challenging to give a definite answer to that."

As Nakamura, who seemed quite perceptive about games, asked me, I realized I inadvertently mentioned 'first.' However, since it wasn't crucial, I picked up the mini-album from the table and responded.

"To explain that, I'd have to first clarify the intention behind this album's creation. But before that, I need a promise from you."

"Yes?"

"About this album and especially about Kanna, please do not disclose any information. If you're truly her friends, please keep this a secret for her sake."

Upon hearing my words, the couple nodded with solemn expressions.

&

Junhyuk, nursing a full 500cc beer in hand, gulped it down at a private gathering one week after Nakamura, a friend from Kanna's university, had departed.

"Haha! Whoa~!"

"Slow down, man."

"Hey, am I not drinking slowly?"

"Maybe she's just busy. Misato isn't unemployed. Don't make a fuss over a few missed calls."

"Missed? Yeah, that's it. That sums up my situation perfectly. Missed calls indeed..."

Ever since the earthquake incident, wondering how Misato had been since their last contact, it had been about ten days of endless nagging about their disconnected communication...

I nibbled on a croquette that arrived as a side with the extra beer I ordered from the owner across the counter.

"Focus on work more at times like this. It helps ease the mind."

"You think I'm at fault here, right? That's it?"

"······."

If Misato liked him, she'd have reached out first. Although I hadn't dabbled much in love advice, a ten-day silence in communication might as well mean it's over.

Patting Junhyuk's shoulder lightly, I comforted him.

"Fresh beer here."

As the proprietor pushed the beer toward Junhyuk, he took a long sigh and lifted the glass.

"Hey, hey, I said drink slowly~!!"

"Excuse me... sir."

"Oh, sorry if we're being too loud."

"No, not that. If it's alright, could we play some music in the store? My son gave me a CD recently, and the songs are quite pleasant."

"Huh? Oh, yes, of course. We don't mind."

"Thank you. Then..."

After apologizing to the other customers, the owner fixed a small CD into the player.

"Haha. Drowning my sorrows here, and now, music..."

"Hey, you drunk?"

As Junhyuk grumbled, wondering if the owner overheard, familiar guitar chords flowed from the small CD player inside the store.

"Huh... what's this?"

"My son mentioned it's a rare album to replace nowadays. I'm more into enka, but occasionally, this is nice too."

Listening intently, Junhyuk, who had been keen on the music, looked at me with half-closed eyes.

"Hey, isn't this a cheering song for you? Haha, this song's great!"

"Really? You seem to know something."

"Well~ I've heard. But isn't the person next to me more knowledgeable?"

"Huh...? What do you mean?"

"Haha... nothing at all. He's a bit drunk. Don't mind him."

"Hehe... seems like it. Please watch him so he doesn't fall back. Our chairs don't have backrests, so customers sometimes tumble backward."

"Ah... I see. Got it."

"Hey, bartender, another draft here!"

"Yes, coming right up!"

As the owner hurried to the table across, Junhyuk had already emptied the recent 500cc beer in one go.

"Tired of the reality so different from the dreamed future, feeling disappointed, but still, your future world will be achieved someday. I'll always cheer for you."

Seemingly intoxicated, he grabbed the empty beer glass and said to me while humming along to the song playing from the speakers.

"Have you met the person singing this song?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah, of course."

"She pretty?"

"······."

That question, universal regardless of East or West, as if set in stone for any guy. Recalling Kanna plucking the guitar strings, I nodded.

"Yeah. She's cute, with a somewhat innocent style."

"Really? Then introduce me. I never told you, but a girl who sings well has been my ideal type for a while."

"Oh~ Really? Even after knowing each other for almost 10 years..."

"Is that so? I do have a sentimental side. So, can you make it happen?"

"Nope."

"Why not~!!"

"What were you doing in your first year of high school, Junhyuk?"

"Huh? Um, just club activities, hanging out with friends... Why bring up high school out of nowhere?"

"Ah... that girl singing? She was born around that time."

"······."

After that, he never mentioned Kanna again.

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