※Warning: This is a side story unrelated to the main storyline.※
※Warning: May feel depressing depending on the reader.※
※Warning: The main story is purely an April Fool's gag.※
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇— [That Ending (1)] —
Where is this place?
I was clearly in the middle of a concert at Tokyo Dome, having become a J-pop titan. The cheers of the crowd still echoed in my ears.
Yet here I was in an empty plain, and right in front of me stood a man who existed only in my memories.
That man... wasn't he my past life? How could he be standing here in the flesh?
I had no idea. That's why it terrified me. But staying silent would leave this mystery unsolved forever. So I looked at the man and opened my mouth.
"Huh? The lonely guy who lived all by himself?"
"Haru. It seems like you've granted my wish."
— Past Life Man"Haru. It seems like you've granted my wish."Wish? Did his wish really have to do with recreating the songs from his memories in this world? I was confident I could make those dreams even bigger here. But why bring me to this space? And how?
As if he had no intention of clearing up my confusion, the man's face wore a faint smile.
"Thanks to you, Haru, my wish is finally over. Still, it's a relief it came true at all."
"Your wish? But... we still have the Tokyo Dome concert...! I need to get even more famous here, collect signatures from everyone..."
"No. Our wish... ends here."
What on earth was this man in front of me babbling about? I had a million questions, like whether he really was my past life. Was that why this absurd situation had happened? And why was he looking at me with such a sorry expression?
"...When you gained a precious family I never had... when you received your parents' love... when you got a beautiful girlfriend something the old me could never even dream of... and when you became a J-pop titan... you weren't truly happy, were you, Haru?"
"What the hell are you talking about...?"
What nonsense was this man spouting? I was happier than ever right now. Things were going so perfectly. His words were just making everything weirder.
"It's a shame, but you know it too, Haru. Back when we lived alone, eating solitary meals, getting chewed out by the boss with no one to comfort us... that was when we were truly happy."
No, that's bullshit. I'm overflowing with happiness right now—happiness I don't even deserve.
This life as Lee Haru was the first time I'd realized how joyful and grateful life could be. So why was the man in front of me trying to take it all away?
"Haru... you can't find true happiness without solitude... Haru... from now on, I'm turning back time."
Turning back... time? Regression? All of this ceasing to exist? Repeating the hard journey to J-pop titan from the start?
"No. Not as Haru... back to the lonely man... no, back to ■■."
"No."
I'd given it my all. I'd worked hard to let everyone hear the songs from his memories, basked in my parents' love.
"You have no choice. As ■■, you'll be happier than this. Once you return to the original me without memories as Haru... Haru—no, ■■—you'll be able to dream even bigger dreams than before. Keep dreaming even after becoming ■■."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇I woke up to the sound of my alarm.
...What was that? Felt like a good dream.
Stomach's growling. But I didn't really feel like eating anything.
Ah... so lonely. I miss my parents I never even saw. I want a pretty girlfriend... a job at a big company. Maybe get a pet to ease the loneliness?
Dunno... so sleepy, tired, empty. No motivation. I just kept sleeping. Just... to dream that happy dream again.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇⚡ BREAKING NEWS ⚡Breaking news. A man in his 30s, Mr. ■■, has died alone in Seoul..."Tsk... what a wicked world..."
A young guy dying alone. The world sure is filthy.
— [That Ending (1)] End —
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇— [That Ending (2)] —
Finally, the Tokyo Dome concert of my dreams. The stage every J-pop singer yearns for.
"WAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!"
The crowd's cheers fill the air. And I'm alive right now!
Thump. Thump.
I pressed my hand to my heart. On this dream day of all days, my heart had to act up? Lately, the palpitations had been bad, but the hospital said nothing was wrong.
"Everyone! Thank you for coming!"
In the VIP seats far away, I spotted Yuri unnie, Jisu, and everyone else. On a day like this, I had to be the perfect idol for them. I ignored the pain in my chest. Ruining the stage myself on this perfect dream day... that couldn't happen.
First song: Love and Turing. So nervous, trembling. Their bright smiles shine. They're here for my music, not my looks.
I want to hold onto these smiles forever... but my vision's blurring. Today, I want to cherish our shining selves even a little longer. Are tears blocking my view? No, I'm smiling... then why...?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇Beep!!!
A room thick with the smell of blood. Two men were doing something to the body of a man with closed eyes, moving with practiced ease.
"All done."
Ziiiip.
The open zipper of the body bag closed around its contents.
"Uh... hyungnim..."
"What? We're swamped as it is."
"This bastard... he's smiling?"
"What?"
The guy who'd done countless dirty jobs like this was acting weird today. The body was gaunt from days of starvation, but you could still tell: classic hikikomori.
An orphan who'd lost the will to work, took out a huge loan alone in his room, couldn't pay it back, and ended up like this. That's why you don't do loan sharking. Especially on someone with no ties who no one would care about even if they died.
"He was crying earlier, right?"
"Yeah... was he?"
"He's smiling now."
"Y... yeah?"
"Quit being dense... go do deliveries."
I took off the bloodied gown and left the operating room. I wanted to quit these filthy jobs, but I had a kid to support. That's why I could do this crap with a smile.
"Yeah... in this filthy world, without parents... with that backstory, you'd take out a loan. At least be happy in the next one."
He lit a cigarette, offering a brief prayer for the man he'd once been. This line of work wasn't sustainable. Today, his bunny-like daughter came to mind.
— [That Ending (2)] End —
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇— [That Ending (3)] —
Finally, the Tokyo Dome concert of my dreams. The stage every J-pop singer yearns for. And with every seat sold out, I stepped onto the stage with trembling heart.
"Huh?"
Something's off. No one's there. Did I get the time wrong? Then a ninja appeared.
Slash.
"Wha...?"
And just like that, my dream—one step from J-pop titan—ended.
— [That Ending (3)] End —
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇— [That Ending (4)] —
A small, frail god once said.
— Ancient Prophecy —Humans are so pitiful.
Living a short life of about 100 years, dying young, and now facing this horrific end. Yet she was a small, frail god who loved humans.
Though once fallen, she was the first to create the concept of song.
— Ancient Prophecy —The one who first created the concept of "one day" in the world—Haru.
She always loved song, arranging a false man's memories for her own revival. She was the god who always prayed for human happiness through song.
— Ancient Prophecy —Putting "Haru" alone would make it too easy for other gods to see through, so she hid the meaning of her true name by prefixing it with "Lee."
She who exists by epithet alone.
— Ancient Prophecy —Lee Haru.
Her story had ended. Or so it seemed. Even as the True Immortal descended and the world fell into chaos, "Haru" was needed. So she decided to remember everyone in the form of song. This story... is about a high school girl who believed she was a man's reincarnation, endlessly pushing toward becoming a titan.
♫ High School Girl's Fairy Art: J-Pop Titan ♫「The high school girl with fairy art is a J-pop titan.」
Today too, she repeats the same story... the one where she believes she reincarnated with a man's memories, convincing herself everyone is alive. At least while this fairy art is active.
— [That Ending (4)] End —
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Read 4 more chapters ahead on NovelDex!
https://noveldex.io/series/a-high-school-girl-becomes-a-j-pop-legend
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